Written questions by McMurdock.

With reference to the judgment in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others [2023] UKSC 28 as of 26 July 2023, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the judgment on the UK’s position as a global centre for dispute resolution and on the wider legal services sector.

The Government recognisessthat the PACCAR judgment introduced significant uncertainty about whether Litigation Funding Agreements remain valid and brought to light concerns about the regulatory regime that applies to them.That is why, on 17 December 2025, we announced our intention to introduce legislation to mitigate the effects of the PACCAR judgment and bring in proportionate regulation of litigation funding agreements. Third-party litigation funding plays a critical role in access to justice and in maintaining the attractiveness of England and Wales as a jurisdiction and we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all. We will outline next steps in due course.

With reference to the judgment in R (on the application of PACCAR Inc and others) v Competition Appeal Tribunal and others [2023] UKSC 28 as of 26 July 2023, what recent assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the judgment on the stability and functioning of the litigation funding sector.

The Government recognisessthat the PACCAR judgment introduced significant uncertainty about whether Litigation Funding Agreements remain valid and brought to light concerns about the regulatory regime that applies to them.That is why, on 17 December 2025, we announced our intention to introduce legislation to mitigate the effects of the PACCAR judgment and bring in proportionate regulation of litigation funding agreements. Third-party litigation funding plays a critical role in access to justice and in maintaining the attractiveness of England and Wales as a jurisdiction and we are committed to ensuring it works fairly for all. We will outline next steps in due course.

Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions his Department have had with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on the process of public consultation on new boundary wards.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is an independent body, accountable to Parliament, responsible for delivering fair electoral and boundary arrangements for English councils. As an independent body, decisions about the process of public consultation on new ward boundaries are a matter for the Commission in line with its statutory duties. The Department has had no recent discussions with the Local Government Boundary Commission for England on this process.

What assessment he has made of the adequacy of AI-generated transcripts in criminal proceedings; and how errors will be a) identified, b) challenged and c) corrected.

HMCTS recognises the significant potential for AI transcription to drive productivity across the courts and tribunals. As such, HMCTS is piloting how automated transcription (using AI) could be used across all courts and tribunals, including criminal courts. This work is one of 15 AI Exemplar projects across Government.At the start of 2025, HMCTS completed testing of how AI Transcription could be used to enhance efficiency in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. This work evidenced strong accuracy, and potential efficiency gains achievable through AI-enabled transcription.In line with HMCTS Responsible AI principles, any work to scale the provision of AI-generated transcripts across the courts and tribunals will establish robust processes for how errors will be a) identified, b) challenged and c) corrected.

Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of reformed dog‑breeding practices on long‑term health problems.

As part of the Animal Welfare Strategy, the Government has committed to launch a consultation on dog breeding reform to improve the health and welfare of breeding dogs and their puppies. This will include proposals to improve the health and welfare standards which all licensed breeders must meet. Defra will continue to engage with stakeholders as this develops.

Communities and Local Government, how many residential and mixed‑use buildings in (a) South Basildon and East Thurrock constituency and (b) England contain reinforced concrete transfer slabs constructed using unsafe historic design methods.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) only holds information related to Higher-Risk Buildings with at least two residential units and cannot provide a response to questions related to commercial premises. For Higher-Risk Buildings, the BSR does not hold specific Key Building Information in relation to reinforced concrete transfer slabs which includes those constructed using prior design methods.

Communities and Local Government, how many commercial buildings contain reinforced concrete transfer slabs constructed using unsafe historic design methods in South Basildon & East Thurrock constituency.

The Building Safety Regulator (BSR) only holds information related to Higher-Risk Buildings with at least two residential units and cannot provide a response to questions related to commercial premises. For Higher-Risk Buildings, the BSR does not hold specific Key Building Information in relation to reinforced concrete transfer slabs which includes those constructed using prior design methods.

Pursuant to the Answer of 23 December 2025 to Question 100768, whether AI-generated transcripts will have the same evidential status as human-produced transcripts for the purposes of a) appeals and b) judicial review.

HMCTS recognises the significant potential for AI transcription to drive greater efficiency and opportunities for expanding open justice across the courts and tribunals. As such, HMCTS is piloting how automated transcription (using AI) could assist judges in preparing and writing decisions in the Immigration and Asylum Chamber. This work is one of 15 AI Exemplar projects across government.In line with HMCTS Responsible AI principles, any work to scale the provision of AI-generated transcripts across the courts and tribunals would need to ensure appropriate human manual review processes and define the evidential status of AI-generated transcripts. In other words, AI transcripts are reviewed by humans to ensure fairness and accuracy.

What assessment he has made of the potential impact of the expansion of a) Urgent Treatment Centres and b) Same Day Emergency Care facilities on accident and emergency waiting times at Basildon Hospital.

The Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust is exploring the development of an Urgent Treatment Centre within the Basildon and Thurrock area. The aim is to provide additional capacity for minor urgent health problems, ensuring that resources are targeted appropriately and that emergency care remains available for the most acutely unwell patients.Integrated care boards are best placed to take decisions on the provision of urgent and emergency care services and are therefore responsible for commissioning services to meet the needs of their local communities and population.Our Urgent and Emergency Care Plan for 2025/26 sets out clear actions to deliver improvements this winter and make services better every day. We are aiming for 78% of patients to be seen in in four hours this year, meaning over 800,000 people will receive more timely care. We are investing £250 million into expanding same day and urgent care services, helping avoid unnecessary admissions to hospital and supporting faster diagnosis, treatment and discharge for patients.

Whether his Department plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D supplements to ensure clearer communication of dosage strength.

Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdfThe regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqsAlthough food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.

What steps his Department is taking to ensure the public is aware of the safe upper limit for daily vitamin D supplementation.

Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdfThe regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqsAlthough food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.

What estimate his Department have made of the number of people with health issues related to excessive consumption of vitamin D supplements in each of the last five years.

Food supplements, including vitamin D supplements, are regulated in the United Kingdom under the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003, as well as other applicable food law, along with equivalent legislation for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The Department is responsible for this legislation in England, working closely with the Food Standards Agency and local authorities, who lead on enforcement. Further information on the Food Supplements (England) Regulations 2003 is avaiable at the following link:https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/1387/made/data.pdfThe regulations have specific labelling requirements to support consumers to make informed choices. Food supplements legislation requires manufacturers to include the recommended dose and a warning not to exceed the stated dose on the label. The Department has published guidance to businesses on complying with the regulations, which is avaiable at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/food-supplements-guidance-and-faqsAlthough food supplements legislation does not set statutory maximum levels for vitamins and minerals, industry is encouraged to follow voluntary guidelines for safe upper levels, which for vitamin D is 100 micrograms, or 4,000 International Units, daily. The Department does not currently have plans to review labelling requirements for vitamin D or other supplements.The National Health Service website provides clear public advice on the daily recommended intake for vitamin D and warns of the potential harmful effects of taking too much vitamin D through food supplements. Further information is avaiable on the NHS website, at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vitamins-and-minerals/vitamin-d/The Department always advises consumers to follow NHS guidance and consult a health professional if in doubt. The Department does not systematically collect data for people with health issues owing to excess vitamin D consumption.

What steps his Department is taking to raise public awareness of the risks of taking multiple doses of different over-the-counter medicines which contain the same active ingredient.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of quality, efficacy, and safety. The Human Medicines Regulations 2012 lays out the conditions of the licencing and marketing of a medicine. This includes the information which must be provided with the medicinal product.Schedule 24 specifies that the outer and immediate packaging of medicinal products must display the name of the medicinal product, the strength and pharmaceutical form, and when the product contains more than three active substances, the common name for the active substances. In addition, regulation 259 states that packaging or outer label should present the name in braille for the blind or partially sighted. In addition, schedule 24 states that the labelling should display the contents, for instance the number of tablets, where to store, expiry date, the manufacturers name, and any special precautions relating to the product.The MHRA has recently updated voluntary Best Practice Guidance on the general sale of medicines for pain, to further highlight the risks of overdose, to address public concerns and recognise current sales techniques. Links are also provided to patient support groups, including Papyrus for young people. The update was undertaken in collaboration with retailers, stakeholders and healthcare professionals, and the updated guidance is avaiable at the following link:https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/67e69e9e085277e9961b201b/Best_practice_guidance_on_the_sale_of_medicines_2025.pdfMost retailers adhere to the guidelines on not promoting multiple purchases and have introduced in store measures such as till bars that restrict sales to a maximum of two packs across a range of products containing aspirin, paracetamol, or ibuprofen. The aim of these voluntary measures is to balance the need of people for access to pain relief medicines against the dangers for vulnerable individuals and to reduce the opportunity for customers to purchase on impulse excessive quantities of any single analgesic, like paracetamol, aspirin, or ibuprofen.Paracetamol and ibuprofen are well-known medicines for pain, which when taken as recommended, have well-established safety profiles. The vast majority of patients use these medicines responsibly as effective pain-relievers.The use of paracetamol and accidental overdose is a safety concern, especially in relation to the many trade names of non-prescription and prescription medicines containing paracetamol. Therefore, the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 contain a number of conditions for the presentation of these medicines to highlight the presence of paracetamol in a medicine.Schedule 25, Part 4 of the Human Medicines Regulations sets out statutory labelling requirements for paracetamol medicines to highlight the presence of paracetamol in that product. Paragraph 14 states that, except where the name of the product includes the word “paracetamol” and appears on the outer and immediate packaging, the words “contains paracetamol” should be displayed.Paragraph 15 states that the labelling must highlight paracetamol on the front face of the carton or label and should also contain the warning: “Do not take more medicine than the label tells you to. If you do not get better, talk to your doctor”, which must appear adjacent to either the directions for use or the recommended dosage.Further to this, if the product contains a leaflet, paragraph 16 states that if the product contains paracetamol, unless the product is wholly or mainly intended for children aged 12 years old or younger, the words “Do not take anything else containing paracetamol while taking this medicine” and the warning “Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine, even if you feel well” must be included. If the product does not contain a leaflet, then the words “Talk to a doctor at once if you take too much of this medicine, even if you feel well. This is because too much paracetamol can cause delayed, serious liver damage” should be displayed.Schedule 8 of the regulations also set out the material which must accompany any application for the marketing of a medicine. The Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) as referenced in part 2, for healthcare professionals, provides a summary of the clinical particulars in the use of a medicine, including the recommended maximum daily dose. In addition, particulars in reference to overdose are provided. This includes the potential dose over which liver damage may occur and potential risk factors which may elevate the risk of overdose, including medical history, concomitant medicines, or alcohol intake. A summary of the symptoms of overdose and management are also provided.The market authorisation holders are obligated under the Human Medicines Regulations to continually review the safety of their medicines and to inform the MHRA of any serious adverse reactions. The MHRA continues to monitor the safety of all medicines and if necessary, will take advice from our independent experts on recommended regulatory action. The MHRA provides a list of the SmPCs and patient leaflets for all medicines at the following link:https://products.mhra.gov.uk/Additional resources on product information and the treatment of overdose are available from the British National Formulary (BNF), the electronic medicines compendium, the National Poisons Information Service, and National Health Service, with further information available at the following link:https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/paracetamol-for-adults/The Human Medicines Regulations and the BNF highlight the information that is required in general and electronic prescriptions.

What steps the Government is taking to increase public awareness of the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Yellow Card scheme for reporting medicine side effects and product issues.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is committed to improving patient safety and strategically runs regular public health campaigns to raise awareness of patient safety in healthcare products and the importance of reporting to the Yellow Card scheme, which relies on voluntary reporting by healthcare professionals and the public, including patients, parents, and care givers. Further information on the MHRA is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/medicines-and-healthcare-products-regulatory-agencyA primary platform for education and awareness is the MHRA’s dedicated Yellow Card scheme website, which is regularly updated with educational resources, including Continuing Professional Development accredited e-learning modules, waiting-room videos, posters, and real-world case studies to support understanding of how and what to report as well as the importance of reporting. In 2025, the MHRA launched a new Yellow Card Partner Toolkit containing a package of materials specifically designed to support other organisations and networks in encouraging patient reporting.To strengthen local engagement with the public, the MHRA commissions six Yellow Card Centres across the United Kingdom, covering the North and Yorkshire, the North West, the West Midlands, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, and which focus on education and the promotion of reporting with the public and healthcare professionals, as well as their representative organisations within their regions.Additionally, all MHRA safety alerts and guidance signpost users to the Yellow Card scheme, and by law, every patient information leaflet that comes with a medicine includes information signposting patients to report suspected side effects via the Yellow Card scheme. There is also information on the importance of reporting to the Yellow Card scheme on all repeat paper prescriptions given to patients.On World Patient Safety Day, most recently 17 September 2025, the MHRA announced that statutory relationships, sex, and health education guidance for schools in England would, for the first time, include information on recognising side effects and reporting them via the Yellow Card scheme. This initiative introduces children and young people to patient safety early, empowering them to speak up and contribute to safer healthcare.The MHRA also proactively promotes awareness through presence at conferences such as the annual Health and Safety Journal Patient Safety Congress. In addition, the MHRA also supports a number of campaigns including MedSafetyWeek, which is now an annual international social media campaign which includes 117 countries that the MHRA initiated 10 years ago, to raise awareness of medicines safety and adverse incident reporting.The MHRA has worked with the National Health Service to ensure that there are links to Yellow Card across every single NHS page relating to a medicine or vaccine, and the MHRA is also building upon this by working with NHS colleagues to support better links between the NHS app and Yellow Card, aiming for increased visibility of the Yellow Card scheme and improved reporting of suspected reactions by the public.Together, these measures increase public awareness of the Yellow Card scheme, helping protect patient safety and strengthen monitoring of medicines and medical devices.

How many Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency Yellow Card reports on over‑the‑counter cough and cold medicines were received in each of the last five years.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) publishes information in the form of interactive Drug Analysis Profiles which can be accessed here on the Yellow Card website, at the following link:https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/idapsYou will be able to access a complete listing of all suspected adverse drug reactions that have been reported to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme for all medicines, including medicines used to treat coughs and colds. This includes all reports received from healthcare professionals, members of the public, and pharmaceutical companies.Please note information regarding whether a drug was prescribed or purchased over the counter is not mandatory to provide on a Yellow Card and as such we do not capture this information in a structured data field to be able to provide as part of this request.

Whether additional resources have been provided to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency to support winter‑related medicine safety surveillance.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department and regulates medicines for human use, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom, with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of safety, quality, and efficacy.Safety surveillance activity at the MHRA is funded through the annual service fee. Recent and sufficient fee increases mean that this funding now covers all required surveillance activity, with separate Living with COVID funding helping to support periods of peak demand.

Whether changes are planned to the provision of NHS blood, plasma, and organ donation campaigns following the appointment of WPP Media as the Government’s lead media agency.

NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) is responsible for blood services in England and organ donation services across the United Kingdom, including campaigns to promote blood and organ donation in England.WPP media has been appointed to provide media strategy, planning, and buying services across the Government and the wider public sector. However, there are no planned changes to NHSBT’s blood, plasma, and organ donation campaigns as result of the appointment.These campaigns will continue to be managed by NHSBT, who appoint a media agency via their own tender process. When the current term expires, NHSBT will review the agency contracts in adherence with public procurement regulations.

What assessment his Department has undertaken of the potential impact of Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency winter wellness campaigns during the last five years.

The main Government health winter campaigns are run by the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England, which the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) supports. The MHRA also runs annual winter campaigns to raise public awareness of medicines and medical devices safety that achieves media coverage and social media engagement. For example, the MHRA’s 2025/26 campaign provided five public safety tips covering medicines and medical devices. It achieved media coverage in national print and online, regional and trade press, as well as an interview on BBC One Breakfast. The MHRA created and posted social media content throughout this period which was seen approximately 50,000 times. The MHRA also worked with key stakeholders, such as the National Fire Chiefs Council, to help amplify safety messages.

Whether the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency plans to update its public communications strategy to increase the reporting of adverse reactions to medical supplements.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department and regulates medicines, for human use, medical devices, and blood components for transfusion in the United Kingdom.If a “medical supplement” was covered by the definition of a medicinal product as set out in the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, or the definition of a medical device under Medical Devices Regulations, it would fall under the remit of the MHRA and would be subject to the relevant regulatory requirements. Food supplements are regulated by the Food Standards Agency.Ongoing efforts to raise awareness of the Yellow Card scheme will enhance public understanding of the scheme’s remit and the range of healthcare products it covers, including the reporting of suspected side effects associated with herbal and/or homeopathic medicines, as set out in existing information and general awareness materials available on the Yellow Card scheme website.

With reference to the planned closure of the University of Essex's Southend Campus, what plans he has to increase the provision of health and social care-related courses.

While the Government is committed to ensuring sustainable training pathways for health and care professions, higher education institutions are independent providers and are responsible for making their own decisions about course delivery and viability based on learner demand and provider capacity.The closure of the University of Essex Southend campus is a consolidation of oral health, adult, and mental health nursing courses to their main campus at Colchester. This is not expected to negatively impact overall training numbers or local recruitment to these professions.