Written questions by Niblett.

What steps are required for vaccines for the prevention of recurrent urinary tract infections to obtain regulatory approval including an indicative timeline for licensing.

For any new medicine to be introduced to the United Kingdom market an application to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is required. The MHRA is ready to support companies that are looking to introduce new medicines to the United Kingdom market, offering regulatory and scientific advice to help companies at any stage of the product development process. The MHRA has established procedures in place to review any applications we receive to evaluate the benefit risk of a product in relation to its quality, safety, and efficacy. The exact timeframe will depend on the type of submission the company makes.

What steps his Department is taking to (a) address threshold‑based exclusion in adult eating disorder services,(b) reduce funding disparities between child and adult eating disorder services, and (c) strengthen safeguarding procedures for adults who are declined treatment despite clinically significant medical risk.

Eating disorders are serious mental illnesses that have enduring physical and psychological impacts. This is compounded by known difficulties accessing timely, consistent, and appropriate care across the system. The Government has set out its long-term approach to mental health reform as part of the 10-Year Health Plan for the National Health Service. This plan is built around three key shifts, from hospital to community, from sickness to prevention, and from analogue to digital, all of which are essential to improving care for those with eating disorders. In January, NHS England published long-awaited updated commissioning guidance for children and young people’s eating disorder services. The guidance takes a whole-pathway approach, prioritising community-based care, earlier identification and intervention, and better integration with schools, colleges, and primary care. Specialised adult eating disorder inpatient services are not commissioned based on fixed thresholds. Admission decisions are made by multidisciplinary clinical teams following a comprehensive assessment of clinical risk, including physical health, psychiatric presentation, rate of deterioration, and wider social factors. Body mass index may inform clinical assessment but is not used in isolation to determine access to inpatient care. Integrated care boards (ICBs) commission services across the full pathway, including both adult and children and young people’s provision. This enables resources to be allocated at a system level based on population need, with specialised inpatient services forming part of a broader continuum of care. Where individuals are not admitted to specialised inpatient services, responsibility for ongoing care and risk management remains with local clinical teams under ICB commissioning arrangements. Safeguarding is managed through established NHS and statutory multi-agency frameworks, ensuring that individuals at risk continue to receive appropriate oversight and support. Specialised inpatient services operate as part of an integrated system, with NHS Led Provider Collaboratives supporting coordinated care and clinically led decision-making based on individual need.

What assistance his Department provides for young people with caring responsibilities for older (a) siblings and (b) relatives.

Local authorities must identify young carers, including those caring for older siblings and relatives, who may need support and assess their needs when requested. We strongly support the No Wrong Doors for Young Carers Memorandum of Understanding, which promotes collaboration across children’s and adults’ services, health partners, and schools. We strongly encourage local authorities to sign up to it.NHS England is supporting the identification of young carers through general practice guidance and improved data sharing. NHS England is also leading a cross-Government project, co-produced with young carers and voluntary, community, and social enterprise partners, to improve identification, strengthen support pathways, and join up services across education, health, and local organisations.I chair a regular cross-Government meeting with ministers from the Department for Work and Pensions, the Department for Business and Trade, and the Department for Education, to consider how best to provide unpaid carers and young carers with the recognition and support they deserve. The Government is preparing a cross-Government action plan for unpaid carers which we plan to publish later this year. This will include actions to strengthen further the support that is provided to young carers.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the adequacy of regulation of psychotherapy professions.

The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public.The Department keeps the professions subject to regulation under review but has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to psychotherapy professions, including counsellors and cognitive behavioural therapy psychotherapists.

Whether his Department has plans to introduce statutory regulation for psychotherapy professions, including counsellors and CBT psychotherapists.

The Government is clear that the professions protected in law must be the right ones and that the level of regulatory oversight must be proportionate to the risks to the public.The Department keeps the professions subject to regulation under review but has no current plans to extend statutory regulation to psychotherapy professions, including counsellors and cognitive behavioural therapy psychotherapists.

What guidance his Department has issued on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and the challenges to patients in accessing diagnosis and treatment.

The Department recognises the complex needs of people living with mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). Our approach focuses on improving care coordination and access to appropriate services.The National Health Service has published an overview of mastocytosis, a similar, distinct, mast cell disorder. This includes information regarding symptoms as well as treatment options. Further information is available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/mastocytosis/Specialised commissioning has published the Service Specification for Specialist Allergy Services which covers the responsibilities of specialised commissioned providers in regard to patients with mastocytosis and related disorders. This is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/specialist-allergy-services-adults-service-specification-v2.9.pdfThe management of people with mastocytosis is provided by specialised allergy/immunology, dermatology and haematology services. The lead clinician will vary at different centres, but specialist allergy input should be readily available.

What steps his Department is taking to help support people with pelvic health conditions through the Pelvic Partnership; and what support and service provision is available in South Derbyshire constituency.

I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave on 9 March 2026 to Question 117110.

What plans his department has to ensure equitable access and service provision for patients with functional neurological disorder (FND) across South Derbyshire.

NHS England’s updated Specialised Neurology Service Specification, published in August 2025, includes specific reference to functional neurological disorder (FND). It states that all specialised neurology centres must include access to treatment services for FND. The service specification is available at the following link:https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/There are a number of other national-level initiatives supporting service improvement and better care for patients with neurological conditions, including FND, such as the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology and the Neurology Transformation Programme, which aim to improve care for people by reducing variation and delivering care more equitably across England, including for people in South Derbyshire.Additionally, we have set up a UK Neuro Forum facilitating formal, twice-yearly meetings across the Department, NHS England, the devolved administrations and health services, and the Neurological Alliances of all four nations. The new forum brings key stakeholders together, to share learning across the system and to discuss challenges, best practice examples, and potential solutions for improving the care of people with neurological conditions, including FND.

What steps his Department is taking to help support individuals with pelvic health conditions through the Pelvic Partnership; and what specific support and service provision is currently available in Derbyshire.

We are rolling out perinatal pelvic health services to improve the prevention, identification, and referral to treatment for pelvic health problems during pregnancy and at least one year following birth. As of January 2026, 36 of the 42 local systems have perinatal pelvic health services in place, and NHS England are working closely with the remaining areas which do not yet have fully established services in place. The Department and NHS England do not support individuals through the charity the Pelvic Partnership.In North Derbyshire, there is a fully operational Perinatal Pelvic Health Service delivered by a dedicated multidisciplinary team.Within Derby City and South Derbyshire, an established women’s health physiotherapy service is in place and is currently being expanded. The service delivers pelvic floor clinics and pelvic girdle pain clinics.The Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust also provide assessment and treatment for women and men experiencing bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor conditions.

How much his Department has spent on Microsoft software licenses in the last 12 months.

DHSC spent £4.3m on Microsoft licensing for internal use for the period 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026.All purchases are based upon a valid business requirement and utilise national pricing agreements negotiated by the Crown Commercial Service to ensure value for the taxpayer.

What vetting procedures are in place to ensure care agencies providing non UK workers in the care industry ensure the safety of patients before allowing workers to commence a caring role.

Care agencies who carry out a regulated activity must be registered by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and are expected to comply with relevant regulations. Where a care agency does not carry out a regulated activity but supplies workers to a regulated care provider, the legal duty to comply with CQC regulations sits with the registered provider using the agency and the registered manager.Regulation 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 sets out that it is the responsibility of the regulated provider to ensure robust and safe recruitment practices are in place, and to make sure that all staff, including agency staff, are suitably experienced, competent, and able to carry out their role. Further information on Regulation 19 is available at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/regulations-service-providers-and-managers/health-social-care-act/regulation-19Registered providers are also expected to comply with Regulation 18: Staffing, which sets out a provider’s responsibility to deploy enough suitably qualified, competent, and experienced staff. Further information on Regulation 18 is available at the following link:https://www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-regulation/providers/regulations-service-providers-and-managers/health-social-care-act/regulation-18The CQC can assess compliance with these regulations through assessment and monitoring activity. Where a breach of regulation or non-compliance is identified, the CQC can take regulatory action.An Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check must be undertaken prior to the recruitment of all care workers. In line with the CQC guidance for DBS checks, staff working with vulnerable adults can only start work before a DBS certificate is received if they have had a DBS Adult First Check, are appropriately supervised, and do not escort people away from the premises unless accompanied by someone with a DBS check.

Whether he has had discussions with NICE on its Final Draft Guidance which does not recommend CAR-T therapy for relapsed or refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma.

Department officials regularly discuss a range of issues with colleagues in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), including in relation to the development of guidance on individual products.NICE develops its recommendations on new medicines independently on the basis of a thorough assessment of the available evidence and through extensive engagement with interested parties. NICE is currently re-evaluating the CAR-T therapy brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) to determine whether it can be recommended for routine National Health Service use, taking into account real-world evidence generated through its use in the Cancer Drugs Fund.

What consideration his department has made of the potential merits of providing parity in pay and conditions between primary care nursing staff and their Agenda for Change colleagues in the NHS.

The Government is committed to ensuring the general practice nursing workforce is sustainable, supported and valued for the work they do.The Government looks to the independent pay review bodies for a pay recommendation for National Health Service staff, including both contractor and salaried general practitioners (GPs). They consider a range of evidence from organisations including the Government, the NHS and trade unions to reach their recommendations.The independent review body on Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration (DDRB) recommended an uplift of 4% to the pay ranges for salaried GPs, and to GP contractor pay. As with the previous year, we accepted the DDRB’s pay recommendation. We provided an increase to core funding for practices to allow this 4% pay uplift, on top of the provisional 2.8% uplift already provided, to be passed on to salaried and contractor GPs. The additional funding also allows for pay uplifts for other salaried general practice staff, including nurses. We expect GP contractors to implement pay rises to other practice staff in line with the uplift in funding they have received.As self-employed contractors to the NHS, it is up to general practices how they distribute pay and benefits to general practice nurses and other staff. General practice contractual arrangements do not place any specific obligations on practices regarding general practice nurse terms and conditions.We are investing an additional £1.1 billion in general practice to reinforce the front door of the NHS, bringing total spend on the GP Contract to £13.4 billion in 2025/26, representing the biggest cash increase in over a decade. The 8.9% boost to the GP contract in 2025/26 is greater than the 5.8% growth to the NHS budget overall.

Pursuant to the Answer of 11 December 2025 to Question 97018, what proportion of his Department expenditure on Microsoft Software licenses and services was allocated to (a) new service implementations and (b) renewal or maintenance of existing system; and how this compares to the previous year’s expenditure in each category.

The following table shows the information requested:YearNew Service ImplementationsRenewal and Maintenance of existing Systems4 December 2024 – 5 December 202515.2%84.8%4 December 2023 – 5 December 20240%100%Source: Department of Health and Social Care

What proportion of spending on Microsoft software licenses and services between (a) 4 December 2024 and 5 December 2025 and (b) 4 December 2023 and 5 December 2024 was allocated to (i) new service implementations and (ii) renewal and maintenance of existing systems.

The following table shows the proportion of spending on Microsoft software licenses and services between 4 December 2024 and 5 December 2025, and between 4 December 2023 and 5 December 2024 that was allocated to new service implementations and renewal, and to the maintenance of existing systems:PeriodNew service implementationsRenewal and maintenance of existing systems4 December 2024 to 5 December 202515.2%84.8%4 December 2023 to 5 December 20240%100%

How much his Department has spent on software licences from Microsoft in the last 12 months; and what proportion this represents of his Department’s total technology spend.

For the period 4 December 2024 to 5 December 2025, the Department spent £4.8 million on Microsoft Software licenses and services. During this period this spend accounted for 25.2% of the overall internal technology spend.

Whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential impact of sites previously used to dump fly ash now used for house building on public health.

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has not undertaken any overarching assessment of the potential impact on public health from housebuilding on sites previously used to deposit fly ash.Assessments of potential land contamination used for housing are governed at national level by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs under contaminated land legislation and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government under planning legislation. Local authorities assess land within their areas with respect to contaminated land, and Local Planning Authorities address legacy contamination through local plans and development management.In England and Wales, local authorities are required to assess their areas to identify and remove unacceptable risks to public health and the environment, and act as a regulator to ensure that contaminated land is made suitable for its current use. Specific development sites brought into use for housing should be adequately risk-assessed, and any required remediation overseen, within the planning process.

For what reason older people under 75 are not eligible for the NHS covid-19 autumn booster in 2025.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent expert committee which reviews the latest data on COVID-19 risks, vaccine safety, and effectiveness and advises the department on the approach to vaccination and immunisation programmes. The JCVI has published advice for future COVID-19 vaccination campaigns in autumn 2025, spring 2026, autumn 2026, and spring 2027. The Government has accepted JCVI advice for autumn 2025. The Government is considering the JCVI’s advice for 2026 and spring 2027 carefully and will respond in due course.The primary aim of the national COVID-19 vaccination programme remains the prevention of serious disease (hospitalisations and deaths) arising from COVID-19. The JCVI assessment indicates that the oldest age cohorts and individuals who are immunosuppressed are the two groups who continue to be at higher risk of serious disease.Therefore, in autumn 2025, a COVID-19 vaccination will be offered to:adults aged 75 years and over;residents in a care home for older adults;individuals aged 6 months and over who are immunosuppressed (as defined in the ‘immunosuppression’ sections of tables 3 or 4 in the COVID-19 chapter of the UK Health Security Agency Green Book).

What steps his Department is taking to (a) ensure nursing graduates can find Band 5 roles upon graduation and (b) increase the number of roles for newly registered nurses.

On 11 August 2025, the Government announced the Graduate Guarantee for nurses and midwives. The Guarantee will ensure there are enough positions for every newly qualified nurse in England. The package of measures will unlock thousands of jobs and will ensure thousands of new posts are easier to access by removing barriers for National Health Service trusts, creating opportunities for graduates and ensuring a seamless transition from training to employment.

What proportion of the £10 billion NHS technology investment will be spent on software licensing.

The information requested is not available.