Written questions by Duffield.

Whether his Department plans to undertake an (a) equality impact assessment and (b) health inequalities assessment of access to meningococcal group B vaccination.

In developing vaccination policy, the Department has due regard to its duties under the Public Sector Equality Duty. Consideration of equality and health inequalities impacts are undertaken as part of the development, implementation, and review of vaccination programmes, including meningococcal B (MenB) vaccination programmes.The United Kingdom has a national immunisation programme against MenB diseases where infants are offered the MenB vaccine at eight weeks, 12 weeks, and one year of age. This vaccine is offered to all UK born infants alongside routine immunisations and therefore is equitable for all infants. This vaccine is also offered to a small group of individuals at increased risk of meningococcal disease such as people without a spleen or complement deficiency.The UK does not currently offer the vaccine to any other cohorts, but they may still be able to acquire the vaccine privately. However, this is not within the remit of NHS England or the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). Should an expansion of the national programme be recommended at any point the UKHSA would, as part of the planning for implementation, undertake an assessment to ensure that the approach recommended acted to mitigate inequity in line with the principles outlined in the Immunisation Equity Strategy for any additional cohorts.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has asked the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) 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 as well as an assessment of the cost effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.

Whether his Department plans to run targeted meningitis awareness activity for teenagers, young adults, students and their families ahead of the next academic year, including information on symptoms, urgency of seeking medical help and available meningococcal vaccines.

Raising awareness in parents, teenagers, and young adults about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, as well as the benefits of the MenACWY vaccine, remains a priority.The Department, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and NHS England have been working with national and local partners across the higher education, further education, school, and early years sectors on meningitis. This includes sharing a range of resources to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia/sepsis, when to seek medical attention, and the vaccine offers available.Engagement and support with key sector stakeholders will continue in the run up to the new academic year and will include further sharing communications resources, including regional public relations and targeted stakeholder outreach in areas where universities are based, and digital content on owned channels raising awareness and encouraging students, young people, and their families to check they are up-to-date on vaccinations.The UKHSA also provides a range of resources and assets, co-branded with the National Health Service, including information leaflets about the importance of vaccination and posters about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia including the save a life posters and stickers for accommodation, catering, and high traffic areas. These are available in multiple languages and accessible formats, including easy read, British Sign Language, and braille, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-public-health-resourcesA collaboratively produced university vaccine communications toolkit is also available and is shared via Universities UK and the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, with further information available at the following link:https://find-public-health-resources.service.gov.uk/University%20vaccine%20communications%20toolkit/UNI24

What steps his Department and the UK Health Security Agency are taking to improve the timeliness and completeness of reporting of suspected cases of meningococcal disease and bacterial meningitis from hospitals.

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

Whether his Department plans to fund sustained public awareness activity on meningitis, including awareness of signs and symptoms, available vaccinations and when to seek urgent medical help.

Raising awareness about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia, as well as the benefits of the MenACWY vaccine, remains a Department funding priority.The Department, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and NHS England have been working with national and local partners across the higher education, further education, school and early years sectors on meningitis. This includes sharing a range of resources to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia/sepsis, when to seek medical attention and the vaccine offers available.Engagement and support with key sector stakeholders will continue throughout the year with further sharing communications resources and digital content on owned channels raising awareness of signs and symptoms and encouraging uptake of the MenACWY vaccine.UKHSA provides a range of resources and assets, co-branded with the NHS, including information leaflets about the importance of vaccination and posters about the signs and symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia. These are available in multiple languages and accessible formats, including easy read, British Sign Language, and braille, at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/guidance/find-public-health-resourcesA collaboratively produced university vaccine communications toolkit is also available and is shared via Universities UK and the Association of Managers of Student Services in Higher Education, with further information available at the following link:https://find-public-health-resources.service.gov.uk/University%20vaccine%20communications%20toolkit/UNI24

What assessment the Department has made of the potential under-ascertainment of meningococcal group B disease, including the relationship between (a) laboratory-confirmed cases of meningococcal group B disease, (b) hospital admissions for invasive meningococcal disease and (c) hospital-treated meningitis cases for which no causative pathogen is identified.

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

What assessment the Department has made of inequalities in access to meningococcal group B vaccination for teenagers and young adults who are not eligible for NHS-funded vaccination, including where vaccination is available only through private purchase.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has asked the Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisation (JCVI) 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 as well as an assessment of the cost effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.The Department has not made an assessment about inequalities in access to meningococcal group B vaccination for teenagers and young adults who are not eligible for National Health Service funded vaccination, as private vaccinations are not within its remit.

What timetable the Department expects for any review by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation of meningococcal group B vaccines or meningococcal group B vaccine eligibility criteria.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, that the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (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 as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.The JCVI gives advice to ministers based on the best evidence reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. The process 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 its processes and considerations.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-interestsThe JCVI meningococcal sub-committee meeting heard presentations regarding modelling of MenABCWY vaccination in adolescents in their meeting on 13 November 2025. The minutes of this meeting are available in the document attached. This meeting took place before the 2026 outbreak in Kent and the subsequent request from my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to review eligibility for the meningococcal group B vaccine in older children and young adults. 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.It is also important to note that there are currently no MenABCWY vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom.

Whether his Department has had discussions with the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation on the cost-effectiveness methodology applied to meningococcal group B vaccines; and whether that methodology will take account of (a) NICE's updated threshold of £25,000 to £35,000 per quality-adjusted life year and (b) other changes to NICE’s standard cost-effectiveness thresholds.

The Department is working closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to ensure that the methodology used by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to assess the cost-effectiveness of vaccination programmes provides the information that the committee requires in order to develop objective and robust advice on matters related to vaccination and immunisation, including advice on meningococcal group B vaccines. While the JCVI’s code of practice is being updated, the Department has confirmed that the JCVI continues to consider a vaccination programme to be cost-effective if the health benefits, both the direct health benefits to those vaccinated and the indirect health benefits to the unvaccinated population, are greater than the costs when each quality-adjusted life year is valued at £20,000. Information on cost-effectiveness is considered by the JCVI alongside evidence of the burden of disease, of vaccine safety and efficacy, and of the impact of immunisation strategies.

Whether external organisations, including charities and patient organisations, will have opportunities to submit written evidence to any review of meningococcal group B vaccines or meningococcal group B vaccine eligibility criteria.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, that the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (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 as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.The JCVI gives advice to ministers based on the best evidence reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. The process 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 its processes and considerations.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-interestsThe JCVI meningococcal sub-committee meeting heard presentations regarding modelling of MenABCWY vaccination in adolescents in their meeting on 13 November 2025. The minutes of this meeting are available in the document attached. This meeting took place before the 2026 outbreak in Kent and the subsequent request from my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to review eligibility for the meningococcal group B vaccine in older children and young adults. 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.It is also important to note that there are currently no MenABCWY vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom.

What the current status is of further modelling and cost-effectiveness analysis of MenABCWY vaccination in teenagers considered by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation’s meningococcal sub-committee; and whether that work will inform any wider review of (a) meningococcal group B vaccines and (b) meningococcal group B vaccine eligibility criteria.

My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, told the House on 17 March in the context of the recent meningococcal disease outbreak in Kent, that the Joint Committee on Vaccinations (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 as well as an assessment of the cost-effectiveness of such a vaccination programme.The JCVI gives advice to ministers based on the best evidence reflecting current good practice and/or expert opinion. The process 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 its processes and considerations.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-interestsThe JCVI meningococcal sub-committee meeting heard presentations regarding modelling of MenABCWY vaccination in adolescents in their meeting on 13 November 2025. The minutes of this meeting are available in the document attached. This meeting took place before the 2026 outbreak in Kent and the subsequent request from my Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, to review eligibility for the meningococcal group B vaccine in older children and young adults. 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.It is also important to note that there are currently no MenABCWY vaccines licensed in the United Kingdom.

What assessment he has made of the accessibility of hearing tests for those 18 years old and under, including by audiologists who are not registered with the CQC.

The Government is committed to transforming diagnostic services in England and will support the National Health Service to increase diagnostic capacity, including for audiology services for those 18 years old and under.The National Diagnostic Waiting Times and Activity dataset includes data on the percentage of patients waiting more than six weeks for an audiology assessment, and can be found at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/statistics/statistical-work-areas/diagnostics-waiting-times-and-activity/However, this data cannot be split by adult/child, therefore the Department has not made a formal assessment of the accessibility of hearing tests for those 18 years old and under. As of January 2026, the dataset showed that 45% of patients were waiting more than six weeks for an audiology assessment.Audiology services are not required to be registered with Care Quality Commission where the services provided do not fall under the regulated activities, as set out in the regulations. Audiology activities, such as hearing tests, hearing aid fittings, and tympanometry/routine assessments are not regulated activities. More information is available at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/registration/scope-registration/regulated-activities/diagnostic-and-screening-proceduresWhen an audiologist is a practicing clinical scientist or a hearing aid dispenser, they must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council, with further information available at the following link:https://www.hcpc-uk.org/

What role neighbourhood mental health centre pilot schemes will play in improving (a) care and (b) support for people living with bipolar; and whether these centres will provide specialist support to help reduce delays in (i) diagnosis and (ii) treatment.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Bermondsey and Old Southwark on 10 June 2025 to Question 53884.

If he will mandate the compulsory listing of health risks on adverts placed by the NHS and fertility clinics which seek egg donors.

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the United Kingdom’s fertility sector regulator, has advised that it sets out strict requirements in its Licence Conditions and Code of Practice in relation to the recruitment of donors and the information that must be given to egg donors in advance of donating at United Kingdom licensed fertility clinics, which includes information about the potential immediate or longer-term health risks. The HFEA Code of Practice states that advertising should be designed with regard to the sensitive issues involved in recruiting donors and should follow the Advertising Standards Authority codes.My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has not considered additional compulsory listing of health risks on adverts for egg donors.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of taking immunosuppressant drugs in cases of pregnancy after organ transplant on babies in utero.

Some immunosuppressive drugs are known to cause a structural or functional change in the foetus, known as teratogenic drugs, and so this is a critical area of concern in transplant medicine, and discussion with a patient’s transplant team is important to ensure the most appropriate immunosuppressive regime is provided for the best care of both parent and embryo. NHS England Specialised Commissioning has not undertaken a specific impact assessment of taking immunosuppressant drugs during pregnancy on babies in utero, specifically in the context of transplant recipients. However, guidance is typically informed by a combination of clinical experience, research literature, and recommendations from broader medical bodies. The policies and practices in place in solid organ transplant centres are evidence based, and consider the safety and efficacy of the use of these drugs, including where National Institute for Health and Care Excellence evaluations have taken place.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of including wombs on the list of routine organ donations included for transplant by the NHS on women's health.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for organ donation across the United Kingdom.In the UK, womb donation for transplant is not included in the standard organ donation process and is therefore not part of routine deemed consent. Donations for new types of transplants are only undertaken following a special and/or additional voluntary request to a family. It is also usually done for specific research programmes where people die in very rare circumstances and where a particular kind of donation may be possible.The Department has worked in collaboration with National Health Service hospitals like Imperial College Healthcare Trust and Oxford University Hospitals in facilitating womb transplant research and clinical trials, however, it is not yet a standard NHS treatment and there are no current plans to include womb transplants on the organ donation register.

What information his Department holds on which (a) cognitive behavioural therapy, (b) family therapy, (c) exploratory therapy and (d) other non-medical treatments are offered to young people by NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Services.

NHS England commissions gender services for children and young people in line with its interim service specification for children and young people with gender incongruence.Children and young people are cared for holistically by specialist multi-disciplinary teams based in specialist children's hospitals. The multi-disciplinary teams include expertise in child and adolescent mental health, including family therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and neurodevelopmental conditions.Each child or young person will have a tailored individual care plan to meet their needs. Depending on individual need, the gender service for children and young people will provide psychosocial and clinical interventions, including support for the family.

If he will meet representatives of women and children's rights groups to discuss proposals announced by the Law Commission on 29 March 2023 in relation to surrogacy.

The Law Commission consulted widely as part of the preparation for their report. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Patient Safety, Women’s Health and Mental Health will be writing to the Chairs of the Law Commissions of England, Wales, and Scotland shortly, to follow up their meeting on 5 November 2024. A Government response to the commissions’ report will be published as time allows. As such, the Department is not planning to meet women and children’s rights groups to discuss the matter at this time. We welcome future meetings on the topic at the appropriate time.

When he expects the NHS review of adult gender dysphoria clinics to report its findings.

NHS England is currently undertaking a review of adult gender services, chaired by Dr David Levy. The review will examine the model of care and operating procedures of each service, and will carefully consider experiences, feedback, and outcomes from clinicians and patients, with the aim of producing an updated service specification. The review will report its findings at the earliest opportunity.

What services his Department and the NHS offer to people choosing to detransition.

The Government and NHS England are committed to implementing the recommendations of the Cass Review in full. This includes the recommendation for a pathway to be established for individuals who wish to detransition. The formative stages of this work will involve a process of evidence gathering in the spring of 2025, focused on individuals and clinicians with experience of detransition, and professional bodies. NHS England will engage stakeholders on a proposed service specification for the new pathway, including through public consultation.In parallel, NHS England has begun the process of forming a clinical commissioning policy for hormone medications, that will describe the approach for the management of hormone medications for individuals who choose to detransition.

What information his Department holds on the number of new prescriptions issued by NHS Children and Young People’s Gender Services for (a) oestrogen and (b) testosterone to young people aged 16-18 since 1 April 2024.

Since 1 April 2024 there have been no new initiations of exogenous hormones through the NHS Children and Young People's Gender Service.