Bob Blackman MP: written questions
250 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 9 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111650More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, when he plans to announce the next phase of modern service frameworks.
Answer: I refer the Hon. Member to the answer I gave to the Hon. Member for Strangford on 26 January 2026 to Question 102753.
Answered 20 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111109More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the UK and Eire Glaucoma Society 2025 consensus on Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, whether he has made an assessment of the potential impact on secondary care services when p
Answer: Data on the number of glaucoma patients who weren't offered a combined procedure to treat glaucoma at the time of cataract surgery is not held.The best treatment options will be decided by the treating clinician, in discussion with the patient, considerin...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordGlaucoma: Medical TreatmentsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 111108More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the UK and Eire Glaucoma Society 2025 consensus on Minimally Invasive Glaucoma Surgery, what estimate he has made of the number of glaucoma patients who weren't offered a combined
Answer: Data on the number of glaucoma patients who weren't offered a combined procedure to treat glaucoma at the time of cataract surgery is not held.The best treatment options will be decided by the treating clinician, in discussion with the patient, considerin...
Answered 12 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordImmigrationHome OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110755More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the nationality breakdown was of people subject to decisions under paragraphs SUI 26.1 and SUI 26.2 of the Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules in each year since 1 December 2020.
Answer: This information could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSleeping Rough: MigrantsHome OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110754More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many referrals Immigration Enforcement has received from (i) local authorities and (ii) police forces regarding rough sleeping by non-UK nationals.
Answer: The information requested is not centrally held and could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 16 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrants: DeportationHome OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110753More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-UK nationals have been removed from the UK following a decision under paragraphs SUI 26.1 or SUI 26.2 of Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules.
Answer: This information could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSleeping Rough: MigrantsHome OfficeTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110752More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many non-UK nationals have had their permission to stay refused or cancelled under paragraphs SUI 26.1 and SUI 26.2 of Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules on the grounds of rough sleeping.
Answer: This information could only be collected and verified for the purpose of answering this question at disproportionate cost.
Answered 13 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordChronic Illnesses: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 4 Feb 2026AnsweredUIN 110751More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of the expansion of the UK National Screening Committee’s remit to include consideration of targeted screening programmes on the eval
Answer: Each year, over 15 million people are invited for screening by National Health Service screening programmes, with over 10 million taking up the invitation. Through our NHS screening programmes, we can reduce mortality and morbidity from cancer and other c...
Answered 11 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordProof of Identity: Digital TechnologyCabinet OfficeTabled 29 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907723More
Question: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate she made of the cost to her Department of implementing the digital ID scheme since September 2024.
Answer: Costs in this Spending Review period will be met within the existing Spending Review settlement.
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: EpilepsyDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107366More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with the Minister for the Cabinet Office to help tackle the harm caused by sodium valproate to (a) women with epilepsy and (b) their families.
Answer: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies.Action has been taken to minimise the risk associated with valproate to women with epilepsy, and their families. This includes the valproate Pregnancy Prevention Programme, whic...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Side EffectsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107365More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with his international counterparts on the relevance of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to individuals harmed by sodium valproate.
Answer: My Rt Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has not had specific discussions with international counterparts regarding the relevance of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities to individuals harmed by sodium ...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordYoung Carers: Sodium ValproateDepartment for EducationTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107364More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether disabled young carers in families affected by sodium valproate-related harm are being (a) identified and (b) supported within the education system.
Answer: We know that families with children with disabilities, including those affected by sodium valproate harm and where the children may be caring for other family members, are crying out for change.The department’s upcoming full Schools White Paper will build...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Sodium ValproateDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107363More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether Personal Independence Payment assessors receive specialist training on disabilities caused by sodium valproate.
Answer: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities caused by sodium valproate receive high-quality, objective, and accurate assessments. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) assessments are functional ass...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPersonal Independence Payment: Sodium ValproateDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107362More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what steps he has taken to reduce the level of incorrect Personal Independence Payment decisions for people with disabilities resulting from sodium valproate.
Answer: It is our aim to make the right decision as early as possible in the claim journey. To support this, we have made improvements to our decision-making processes to help ensure people get the support they are entitled to without needing to appeal. This incl...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordCarers: Sodium ValproateDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107361More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of payments received by unpaid carers for people harmed by sodium valproate.
Answer: People in Great Britain who provide unpaid care of 35 hours a week or more can receive financial support from the benefit system through Universal Credit (UC) or Pension Credit (PC). Carer’s Allowance (CA) is also available to those in England and Wales. ...
Answered 28 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107360More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he has taken to ensure that people who have brought forward cases relating to the unsafe prescription of sodium valproate are not denied access to justice due to their (a) cases being co
Answer: NHS Resolution (NHSR) is the body that manages clinical negligence and other claims against the National Health Service in England, and a full list of their clinical schemes can be found at the following link:https://resolution.nhs.uk/services/claims-mana...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107359More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the withdrawal of legal aid in cases involving sodium valproate on the long-term care needs on people who have brought such cases forward.
Answer: Legal aid was granted in respect of a multi-party action product liability dispute under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 against Sanofi, the manufacturers of Epilim, a sodium valproate containing medication. The availability of legal aid in connection wi...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107358More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has made an assessment of the potential merits of making Exceptional Case Funding available to women and families on their legal cases relating to harm caused by sodium valproate.
Answer: Legal aid was granted in respect of a multi-party action product liability dispute under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 against Sanofi, the manufacturers of Epilim, a sodium valproate containing medication. The availability of legal aid in connection wi...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationMinistry of JusticeTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107357More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the withdrawal of legal aid certificates in litigation cases relating to harm caused by sodium valproate; and whether people involved in such cases were aware of the avail
Answer: Legal aid was granted in respect of a multi-party action product liability dispute under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 against Sanofi, the manufacturers of Epilim, a sodium valproate containing medication. The availability of legal aid in connection wi...
Answered 30 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 21 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 107356More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing financial compensation to people harmed by sodium valproate by using the same compensation process as for thalidomide survivors.
Answer: The Department’s consideration of the Hughes Report’s recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate will include comparison with the compensation process for thalidomide survivors. However, this is a complex, cross-Government policy are...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordUniversal Credit: Foreign NationalsDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 907466More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of trends in the number of foreign nationals claiming Universal Credit.
Answer: Universal Credit is primarily reserved for people settled in the UK, and the Government has announced plans to increase the standard time most migrants have to wait before they can achieve settlement, from five to 10 years. This change will support the do...
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106969More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government has made an assessment of the potential merits of piloting a no-fault compensation model for individuals harmed by sodium valproate.
Answer: The Department has not yet undertaken an assessment of the potential merits of piloting a no-fault compensation model for individuals harmed by sodium valproate.This is a complex, cross-Government policy area involving multiple organisations. As set out i...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106968More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of international no-fault compensation schemes for medicine-induced harm, including those in New Zealand, Sweden and Denmark, in rel
Answer: The Department’s consideration of the Hughes Report’s recommendations for redress for those harmed by sodium valproate will take account of how other countries have chosen to approach this issue.This is a complex, cross-Government policy area involving mu...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium ValproateDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106967More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether medicine-induced harm from sodium valproate is systematically captured within NHS patient safety, incident and mortality data.
Answer: The National Health Service in England operates a comprehensive central database, the Learn From Patient Safety Events (LFPSE) service, which is a national NHS system for the recording and analysis of patient safety events that occur in healthcare. It col...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordJake AldcroftDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106966More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what learning has been implemented following the coroner’s finding that harm from sodium valproate exposure contributed to the death of Jake Aldcroft.
Answer: Everyone who has been harmed from sodium valproate has our deepest sympathies.Action has been taken to minimise the risk of foetal harm associated with valproate, and to ensure that healthcare professionals are also able to support any babies and families...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament record
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