Every parliamentary written question tabled by Rupert Lowe this session, with the full answer and department. See how every department answers, or back to the MP page.
Showing 581–600 of 2,388 · this parliament
Whether any NHS regional gender hubs have prescribed puberty blockers to patients under 18 since the publication of the Cass Review.
From 1 April 2024, NHS England adopted a new clinical commissioning policy that prevents the newly established Children and Young People's Gender Services from initiating prescriptions for gonadotrophin releasing hormone analogues for the purpose of puberty suppression.
Whether the Department holds complete archived referral, assessment, prescribing, and safeguarding data from the former Tavistock Gender Identity Development Service; and whether the Department will publish an aggregated historical summary.
NHS England, as the responsible commissioner of the service at the time, will hold some relevant data, of the type and nature that would routinely be reported through the commissioning process. This would not include patient identifiable information.
What was the total annual NHS expenditure on GnRH analogue puberty blockers for under-18s in each financial year since 2010.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or ‘puberty blockers’ are used to treat several medical conditions in children and young people. These can include precocious puberty, some forms of cancer, and endometriosis. They have also been used outside of their licenced indication to treat gender dysphoria. There is no central registry that provides the total number of children in England who have been prescribed GnRH agonists through the National Health Service since 2010. The following table shows the number of identifiable patients and total net ingredient cost for NHS prescriptions of GnRH agonists for all purposes for children aged 17 years old and under that were prescribed and dispensed in community pharmacies or general practices in England in each year from 2015/2016 to September 2025: Financial yearThe unique number of identified patients aged 17 years old and under who received an NHS prescription of GnRH for all purposesThe total net ingredient cost of prescriptions known to be issued to those aged 17 and under who received an NHS prescription of GnRH for all purposes2015/16885£621,033.412016/17987£692,927.422017/181,047£772,767.712018/191,072£806,393.822019/201,048£781,151.722020/21936£703,531.552021/22864£607,597.802022/23849£586,845.562023/24746£525,321.932024/25622£449,611.722025/2026432£219,338.73Source: ePACT2, which sources data from the NHS Business Services Authority’s Information Services Data Warehouse. Note: the net ingredient cost is the basic price of a product excluding VAT. It does not take account of discounts, rebates, dispensing costs, fees, and allowances paid to pharmacists and appliance contractors for the service they provide to the NHS, or prescription charge income received, where the single charge or Prescription Prepayment Certificate fee is paid, or foregone where prescriptions are dispensed free of charge. The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold patient data prior to April 2015. This data excludes dispensing in secondary care and other settings, and private prescriptions.
How many patients aged under 18 have been prescribed GnRH analogue puberty blockers through the NHS in each year since 2010.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or ‘puberty blockers’ are used to treat several medical conditions in children and young people. These can include precocious puberty, some forms of cancer, and endometriosis. They have also been used outside of their licenced indication to treat gender dysphoria. There is no central registry that provides the total number of children in England who have been prescribed GnRH agonists through the National Health Service since 2010. The following table shows the number of identifiable patients and total net ingredient cost for NHS prescriptions of GnRH agonists for all purposes for children aged 17 years old and under that were prescribed and dispensed in community pharmacies or general practices in England in each year from 2015/2016 to September 2025: Financial yearThe unique number of identified patients aged 17 years old and under who received an NHS prescription of GnRH for all purposesThe total net ingredient cost of prescriptions known to be issued to those aged 17 and under who received an NHS prescription of GnRH for all purposes2015/16885£621,033.412016/17987£692,927.422017/181,047£772,767.712018/191,072£806,393.822019/201,048£781,151.722020/21936£703,531.552021/22864£607,597.802022/23849£586,845.562023/24746£525,321.932024/25622£449,611.722025/2026432£219,338.73Source: ePACT2, which sources data from the NHS Business Services Authority’s Information Services Data Warehouse. Note: the net ingredient cost is the basic price of a product excluding VAT. It does not take account of discounts, rebates, dispensing costs, fees, and allowances paid to pharmacists and appliance contractors for the service they provide to the NHS, or prescription charge income received, where the single charge or Prescription Prepayment Certificate fee is paid, or foregone where prescriptions are dispensed free of charge. The NHS Business Services Authority does not hold patient data prior to April 2015. This data excludes dispensing in secondary care and other settings, and private prescriptions.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Civil Service sickness absence reports, which provide statistics for sickness absence by organisation and sickness reason, including Mental Ill-Health.https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
As of 31 October 2025, the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero had less than five employees on sickness absence for six months or more where the recorded reason related to mental health. The exact number has been redacted to avoid identification of individuals. The Department records sickness absence reasons in line with Civil Service categories, which include stress, anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. The Department offers a range of support including an Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders, and access to occupational health services.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
We currently have fewer than 5 staff on leave for six months or more for mental health related sickness absence. We do not reveal the medical details for individual ill health.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
On the 30 September 2025, 94 individuals were recorded on Ministry of Defence (MOD) HR systems with an ongoing sick absence of six months or longer for Mental Disorders as defined by the World Health Organisation International Classification of Diseases. The MOD HR systems do not break down this down but include Anxiety, Depression and Stress within the description.
Communities and Local Government, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Information on sickness absence, including data by Department and sickness reason (such as Mental Ill-Health), is published in the Civil Service sickness absence reports available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The next release is expected soon.
Commonwealth and Development Affairs, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
The Civil Service publishes sickness absence statistics by organisation and by sickness reason, including mental ill-health. These figures are available in the publicly accessible Civil Service sickness absence reports on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence). The next release of these statistics is scheduled for 18 December, and you may wish to refer to this forthcoming publication for the most up-to-date information.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Cabinet Office publishes sickness absence data for the Civil Service on an annual basis, including by organisation and by absence reason. I refer you to the statistics publicly available which can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The next release is likely to be around 18 December 2025.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Civil Service sickness absence reports (which provide statistics for sickness absence by organisation and sickness reason, including Mental Ill-Health) are publicly available at: [https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence]. The next release of data is likely to be on Thursday 18th December 2025.
Innovation and Technology, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology routinely reports its sickness absence data on gov.uk alongside the rest of the Civil Service.Information can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absenceThis contains statistics for sickness absence by organisation and sickness reason, including Mental Ill-Health.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Information on sickness absence, including mental ill-health, is available in the Civil Service Sickness Absence Reports, which provide statistics by organisation and sickness reason. These reports can be accessed at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The Cabinet Office collates Sickness Absence data from DWP on a quarterly basis. On an annual basis this management information is published. The next release of these statistics is expected to be around 18 December.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
The Civil Service publishes regular sickness absence reports, which provide statistics for sickness absence by organisation and sickness reason, including Mental Ill-Health. These can be found at Sickness absence in the Civil Service - GOV.UK.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
As of 31 October 2025, there are 0 staff in DfTc who have been absent for six months or more due to mental health.
Media and Sport, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Civil Service sickness absence reports, which provide statistics for sickness absence by organisation and sickness reason, including Mental Ill-Health, are published on an annual basis. The publication of the 2025 report is currently planned for 18 December 2025. These annual reports can be found by following the link below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Based on our reporting data up to the end of September 2025, we are withholding this data due to the small number of employees involved which could make individuals and the cause of their absence identifiable.
How many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
The department records sickness absence categorised to show the broad reason for the absence, with one option titled ‘anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses’. As of 31 October 2025, five or fewer members of staff in the department were on sickness absence for six months or more, and were still absent on that date, with a recorded reason for the sickness absence of ‘anxiety, stress, depression and other psychiatric illnesses’. Due to the small numbers involved, figures are rounded to the nearest five and are not reported separately. The department does not hold more detailed information on the individual circumstances of these cases. Statistics on mental ill-health related absence across the Civil Service, including for the department, are publicly available in the Civil Service sickness absence reports on GOV.UK. These are available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/sickness-absence. The next release is due on 18 December. The department is committed to supporting staff wellbeing and provides a range of services, including occupational health support, access to an Employee Assistance Programme, and trained Mental Health First Aiders.
Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in their Department have been on mental health leave for six months or more; and for what reason.
Sickness absence information in the format requested is not available. The Cabinet Office publishes statistics on Civil Service sickness absence in regular reports, which can be found here: Sickness absence in the Civil Service - GOV.UK. The next release is due to be published on 18 December 2025.