Written questions by Glen.

When he plans to make a decision on the future of (a) UKHSA Porton Down and (b) the single science hub at Harrow.

On 17 July 2025, my rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, announced that the Government will proceed with plans to develop new state-of-the-art scientific facilities at Harlow, Essex. The move to Harlow will only affect UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) staff and therefore anyone on the site employed by the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory will be unaffected.The Harlow site, with its proximity to the Oxford-Cambridge Investment Corridor, also represents a significant growth opportunity. Moving UKHSA facilities to the area will unlock opportunities for partnerships with industry and academia.This process will not be immediate. We expect the new site at Harlow to open in stages, beginning in the mid-2030s and concluding by 2038, and therefore given the criticality of the work carried out at both Colindale and Porton Down, these two sites will remain open until that time. UKHSA staff will receive extensive support throughout the next decade on this transition.

What discussions his Department has had with the Treasury on (a) the Hughes Report and the recommendations for valproate, (b) redress for those harmed by sodium valproate.

The Government is carefully considering the work 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 in due course.

How many children with a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome also have a diagnosis of (a) spina bifida, (b) neural tube defects, (c) cardiac malformations, (d) kidney malformations and (e) cleft (i) lip and (ii) palate.

Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. The information requested is not held centrally.

How many children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder also have a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome.

Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies. Information on the number of children diagnosed with an autistic spectrum disorder and a diagnosis of foetal valproate syndrome is not collected centrally.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of funding changes for level 7 apprenticeships on skills shortages in the NHS; and what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Education on funding for those apprenticeships.

Skills England and the Department for Education are reviewing the growth and skills offer, including whether employers will fund level seven apprenticeships outside of the levy. Ministers, officials, NHS England, and a range of stakeholders across the sector have been feeding into this review and will continue to work closely with Skills England to ensure that the National Health Service has access to the skilled workforce that patients need, as we rebuild the NHS and make sure that it is there for all of us when we need it.

What steps he is taking to tackle ADHD medication shortages.

The Department has worked intensively with industry and some supply issues with ADHD medicines have been resolved. We continue to engage with suppliers and also the NHS to resolve the remaining issues as quickly as possible, and improve the planning of future demand. I understand concerns in this area and would be happy to give my time to MPs, to sit down with the experts, to explain this further.

Pursuant to the Answer of 22 October 2024 to Question 8130 on Public Sector: Pay, what the gross cost was of the doctors pay deal.

The resident doctors accepted the Government’s pay offer to provide an additional pay uplift worth an average of 4.05% on top of their existing pay award for 2023/24, which has an estimated gross cost to the Department of approximately £350 million per ye...

Whether he is taking steps to end the use of pagers in the NHS.

We are taking steps to improve our NHS through the development of a 10-year plan. One of the big shifts for this plan is transforming the NHS from analogue to digital.NHS staff should have access to the right technology to enable them to do their job to t...

How many faxes his Department has (a) sent and (b) received since the general election.

The Department does not have the corporate capability to send or receive faxes.

How many civil servants, other than special advisers, have been appointed in his department without open competition since 4 July 2024; what their (a) job titles and (b) salary bands are; and on wh

The Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010 sets out the requirement for the Civil Service Commission to establish recruitment principles which departments must follow. The Recruitment Principles 2018 provide the legal requirement for the selection ...

What (a) direct ministerial and (b) other public appointments to his Department and associated bodies have (i) been (A) removed from their posts and (B) asked to resign and (ii) made since 4 July 2

Two direct ministerial appointments have been made since 4 July 2024, to work on the 10 Year Health Plan, and to lead on the independent investigation of the National Health Service. Further information on these two announcements is available respectively...

Whether Mr Alan Milburn is a Ministerial or departmental adviser; and what meetings Mr Milburn has had with Ministers since the general election.

Whilst Alan Milburn is neither a Ministerial nor Departmental adviser, he is a Privy Councillor and a former Secretary of State for Health. As my rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, stated in Parliament on 9 September 2024,...