Bob Blackman MP: written questions
250 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Sodium Valproate: DeathDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106965More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government records deaths where harm caused by sodium valproate exposure is listed as a contributing factor.
Answer: The Office for National Statistics (ONS) collects and publishes mortality statistics for deaths registered in England and Wales. Deaths in which harm caused by sodium valproate exposure is a contributing factor are not captured as a distinct, searchable c...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106964More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether conditions arising from sodium valproate exposure are consistently recognised and coded within NHS diagnostic systems.
Answer: The National Health Service in England collects data on patients suffering adverse effects of medication and on drug poisoning. While adverse conditions arising from sodium valproate would be captured in this data, the data does not go to the level to ide...
Answered 4 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Side EffectsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106963More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the adequacy of the diagnostic time taken and levels of misdiagnosis among individuals harmed by sodium valproate, and its impact on long-term outcomes.
Answer: The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm, identified significant shortcomings in National Health Service care pathways for people harmed by sodium valproate, including fragmented services, limited diagnostic expertise,...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Medical RecordsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106962More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken in response to inaccuracies, omissions and loss of NHS medical records relating to historic sodium valproate prescribing.
Answer: Affected patients who feel there are inaccuracies or omissions in their medical record can ask for their records to be amended. NHS England’s guidance on amending patient and service user records is available at the following link:https://transform.englan...
Answered 9 Feb 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106961More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the Government plans to mandate structured medication reviews for patients receiving long-term sodium valproate, particularly as part of antiepileptic polytherapy.
Answer: There are no current plans to mandate Structured Medication Reviews (SMRs) specifically for patients receiving long-term sodium valproate. NHS England has, however, provided substantial funding to expand the number of clinical pharmacists working in prima...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106960More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps are being taken to ensure cumulative drug toxicity and polypharmacy risks are actively monitored in people prescribed sodium valproate.
Answer: There are established systems within the National Health Service to ensure that cumulative drug toxicity and polypharmacy risks are actively monitored in people prescribed sodium valproate. In practice, this involves establishing arrangements for assessin...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Side EffectsDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106959More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many Yellow Card reports relating to harm from sodium valproate, including prenatal exposure, have been received since 2000; and what regulatory action followed.
Answer: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) publishes data received via the Yellow Card scheme in the form of interactive Drug Analysis Profiles (iDAPs). These interactive profiles display a complete listing of all suspected adverse dru...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health EducationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106958More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of the MHRA’s effectiveness at communicating known risks of sodium valproate, particularly in pregnancy, prior to 2018.
Answer: As with all medicines, the safety of valproate has been kept under continual review by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), ensuring the product information reflects what is known about valproate.The known risks of valproate are...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106957More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what data NHS England holds on emergency admissions, emergency care and levels of unmet need among individuals harmed by sodium valproate.
Answer: The requested data is not centrally held. NHS England does not hold data on admissions or attendances that specifically identifies individuals harmed by sodium valproate.
Answered 26 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106956More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what guidance exists for Integrated Care Boards on supporting individuals with complex, medicine-induced disabilities arising from sodium valproate.
Answer: The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm, identified significant shortcomings in National Health Service care pathways for people harmed by sodium valproate, including fragmented services, limited diagnostic expertise,...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106955More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether NHS England plans to commission specialist multidisciplinary services for people affected by sodium valproate exposure, including care coordination, to help reduce emergency admissions and
Answer: The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm, identified significant shortcomings in National Health Service care pathways for people harmed by sodium valproate, including fragmented services, limited diagnostic expertise,...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106954More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment has been made of whether NHS care pathways are adequate for individuals harmed by sodium valproate that require lifelong, multidisciplinary care.
Answer: The Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, First Do No Harm, identified significant shortcomings in National Health Service care pathways for people harmed by sodium valproate, including fragmented services, limited diagnostic expertise,...
Answered 29 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106953More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether interim compensation payments have been considered for families involved in the first ten claims of the FAC litigation concerning sodium valproate.
Answer: The Department has not specifically considered interim compensation for the families involved in the Fetal Anti‑Convulsant litigation. On redress more broadly, I met with the Patient Safety Commissioner in December 2025, to discuss progress on the Hughes ...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106952More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has estimated the lifetime public cost of not compensating individuals with complex disabilities caused by sodium valproate exposure, including costs to the NHS, social care
Answer: The Department of Health and Social Care has not made an estimate of the lifetime public cost of not compensating individuals affected by in‑utero exposure to sodium valproate, including potential costs to the National health Service, social care services...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106951More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department has taken since 2020 to implement the IMMDS Review recommendations on redress for those harmed by sodium valproate; and if he will publish a timetable for delivery.
Answer: The previous administration accepted seven of the nine recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review, whether in full, in part, or in principle, including issuing an unreserved apology on behalf of the healthcare system, a...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordSodium Valproate: CompensationDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 20 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106950More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the feasibility of establishing a dedicated, no-fault compensation scheme for individuals harmed by sodium valproate exposure, in the context of the recom
Answer: The Department has not yet undertaken an assessment of the feasibility of establishing a dedicated, no-fault compensation scheme for individuals harmed by sodium valproate exposure, in the context of the recommendations of the Independent Medicines and Me...
Answered 27 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPalestine: CurriculumForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 16 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 106302More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, pursuant to the Answer of 16 January 2026 to Question 98592, which independent organisation has been contracted to conduct the audit of Palestinian Authority curriculum refor
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 20 January 2026 to Question 104985.
Answered 22 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: ChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104691More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether conditions haven been made as a prerequisite by his Chinese counterparts in advance of the Prime Minister’s trip to Beijing.
Answer: The Prime Minister's travel will be confirmed in the usual way.This Government is taking a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can and chall...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: ChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104690More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if the Government will call for the removal of bounties placed on Hong Kong democracy activists living in the UK during the proposed trips to Beijing.
Answer: The Prime Minister's travel will be confirmed in the usual way.This Government is taking a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can and chall...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordPrime Minister: ChinaForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104689More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether the Government will call for the removal of Chinese sanctions on British parliamentarians during the proposed trip to Beijing
Answer: The Prime Minister's travel will be confirmed in the usual way.This Government is taking a consistent, long term and strategic approach to managing the UK's relations with China, rooted in UK and global interests. We will co-operate where we can and chall...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionHome OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104688More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has made an assessments of the potential impact of approving a new Chines embassy on Hong Kongers in the UK.
Answer: The decision on whether or not to approve planning permission for the proposed Chinese Embassy site at the Royal Mint Court is an independent one for the Secretary of State for the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government in his quasi-judic...
Answered 20 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104687More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if she will make planning permission for China’s new embassy contingent on the release of political prisoners in Hong Kong.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 in response to Question 65869.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104686More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, if he will make the approval of China’s new embassy conditional on the release of Jimmy Lai.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 in response to Question 65869.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordChinese Embassy: Planning PermissionForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104685More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what concessions are being sought by China on His Majesty’s Government’s decision to approve the planning application for China’s new embassy.
Answer: I refer the Hon Member to the answer provided on 14 July 2025 in response to Question 65869.
Answered 19 Jan 2026
Original Parliament recordHospices: FinanceDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 12 Jan 2026AnsweredUIN 104684More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to provide emergency day-to-day funding to hospices; and whether he will commit to releasing (a) £100 million in emergency funding now and (b) a further £100 million in Apri
Answer: Children and young people’s hospices have received £26 million of revenue funding for 2025/26 and we are also providing approximately £80 million of revenue funding for children and young people’s hospices over the next three financial years, 2026/27 to 2...
Answered 2 Feb 2026
Original Parliament record
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