Bob Blackman MP: written questions
381 published records · newest first.
Written questions
Complementary MedicineDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 10 Apr 2026AnsweredUIN 124542More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the economic impact on UK businesses of any restriction or ban on ashwagandha food supplements; and whether that impact has been considered as part of the
Answer: The Department has not assessed the economic impact on United Kingdom businesses of any restriction or ban on ashwagandha for use in food supplements. Legislation on the addition of vitamins and minerals and of certain other substances to foods sets out t...
Answered 20 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordBowel Cancer: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 26 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 908659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve rates of bowel cancer diagnosis through screening.
Answer: Too many people are still suffering and dying from bowel cancer. We have already taken steps to address this, including expanding the eligible age range for screening so it is now available from age 50 to 74.And, from this year, we are improving the sensi...
Answered 14 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordMigraines: EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122692More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether people living with migraine will be considered in the delivery of policies to support people with long-term conditions to remain in or return to work.
Answer: The Government recognises the substantial economic and NHS burden of migraine, which costs the economy roughly £8.8 billion to £12 billion annually, driven heavily by lost productivity. Three million workdays are lost annually due to migraine and there ar...
Answered 27 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMigraines: EmploymentDepartment for Work and PensionsTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122660More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of migraine on levels of sickness absence, labour market participation and economic inactivity.
Answer: The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows that 3.1 million days were lost due to headaches and migraines in 2024. This represents 2.1% of all days lost, the same percentage as in 2019. No assessment has been made of the potential...
Answered 30 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMigraines: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122659More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to reduce regional variation in access to migraine care and treatment.
Answer: We recognise the substantial economic and National Health Service burden of migraine, alongside the personal impacts. We know that there are an estimated 16,500 emergency admissions per year for migraine that could be avoided, costing the NHS £11.5 millio...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMigraines: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122658More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of migraine on the level of demand for NHS services, including repeat GP appointments, referrals and hospital admissions.
Answer: We recognise the substantial economic and National Health Service burden of migraine, alongside the personal impacts. We know that there are an estimated 16,500 emergency admissions per year for migraine that could be avoided, costing the NHS £11.5 millio...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMigraines: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122657More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to improve the recognition, diagnosis and management of migraine in primary care.
Answer: The Government recognises that migraine is a serious and often debilitating neurological condition, with a wide range of symptoms that go far beyond a headache. Migraine attacks can be a whole-body experience that can make it difficult to function normall...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordMigrainesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122656More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of whether migraine is a serious neurological long-term condition.
Answer: The Government recognises that migraine is a serious and often debilitating neurological condition, with a wide range of symptoms that go far beyond a headache. Migraine attacks can be a whole-body experience that can make it difficult to function normall...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordUnited Arab Emirates: Travel RestrictionsForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122653More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, whether her Department has contingency plans for supporting British citizens' foreign national relatives in UAE subject to travel bans in the event that British citizens are
Answer: We consider all requests for consular assistance on a case-by-case basis. British nationals abroad should continue to monitor our Travel Advice for the latest information on the support available to them, in a crisis scenario or otherwise. Immigration mat...
Answered 2 Apr 2026
Original Parliament recordHealth: ScreeningDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122652More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to introduce additional accountability measures for Integrated Care Boards on delivery of NHS Health Checks and cardiovascular prevention outcomes.
Answer: The NHS Health Check, a core component of England’s cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention programme, has been commissioned by local authorities in England since 2013, and engaged over 1.4 million people last year. Local authorities are responsible for c...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordCardiovascular Diseases: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 23 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 122651More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether the forthcoming Cardiovascular Disease Modern Service Framework will set expectations for Integrated Care Boards to commission specialist lipid services.
Answer: To tackle unwarranted variation and support consistent, high-quality care across the cardiovascular disease pathway, and to support the Government’s ambition to reduce premature deaths from heart disease and stroke by 25% within a decade, the Government w...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120797More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many service licences were granted for multiple generic projects that used (a) dogs and (b) non-human primates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 between 1 January 2021 and 31 Dece
Answer: To obtain this information would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.The Home Office will only grant licences where it is satisfied that the statutory requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been met, including that the wo...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordAnimal Experiments: LicensingHome OfficeTabled 16 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 120796More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, between 1 January 2021-31 December 2025, under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986, how many 'service' licences were granted for multiple generic projects.
Answer: To obtain this information would exceed the disproportionate cost threshold.The Home Office will only grant licences where it is satisfied that the statutory requirements of the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 have been met, including that the wo...
Answered 24 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordSmoking: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 11 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119846More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to ensure the 4.9 million smokers in Great Britain have equitable access to smoking cessation advice, support and tools to start their quit journey.
Answer: Alongside our Tobacco and Vapes Bill, we remain committed to supporting current smokers to quit.The Government has invested an additional £70 million in both 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support local authority-led Stop Smoking Services in England to help peopl...
Answered 31 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordInvestment and Trade: IndiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119243More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade what steps he is taking to engage UK-based Indian alumni networks in promoting British trade and investment opportunities.
Answer: I am delighted that many Indian students come to study in UK institutions and have done so for decades, enhancing our educational, diplomatic, political and business relationships, which is why India is one of the priority countries in our International E...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordEducational Institutions: IndiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119242More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what steps he is taking to strengthen educational partnerships between UK universities and Indian institutions.
Answer: I am delighted that many Indian students come to study in UK institutions and have done so for decades, enhancing our educational, diplomatic, political and business relationships, which is why India is one of the priority countries in our International E...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordOverseas Trade: IndiaDepartment for Business and TradeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119241More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, what assessment he has made of the role international students play in strengthening UK–India trade relations.
Answer: I am delighted that many Indian students come to study in UK institutions and have done so for decades, enhancing our educational, diplomatic, political and business relationships, which is why India is one of the priority countries in our International E...
Answered 13 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPostgraduate Education: Overseas StudentsDepartment for Science, Innovation and TechnologyTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119240More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology what assessment she has made of the contribution of international postgraduate researchers to the UK’s scientific output.
Answer: The UK is committed to attracting international postgraduate research (PGR) students as part of our ambition to attract the best research talent across the research pipeline. International PGRs make significant contributions to the UK’s research strength ...
Answered 18 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119239More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she will commit to developing a roadmap for the transition to in-ovo sexing in the UK egg industry.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119238More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether a consultation on ending the routine culling of male chicks through in-ovo sexing is under consideration.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119237More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether she plans to publish a formal consultation on how a transition to in-ovo sexing would be implemented.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 4 March 2026 to the hon. Member for York Central, PQ UIN 116174.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordPoultry: Animal WelfareDepartment for Environment, Food and Rural AffairsTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119236More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department is taking to work with industry to develop a roadmap for ending the routine culling of male chicks, as laid out in the Animal Welfare Strategy.
Answer: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 21 January 2026 to the hon. Member for Mid Dorset and North Poole, PQ UIN 105878.
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordArmenia: AzerbaijanForeign, Commonwealth and Development OfficeTabled 10 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 119235More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to support its strategic partner Azerbaijan and the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia after the recent drone attacks launched f
Answer: I spoke with Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister, Jeyhun Bayramov, on 9 March, expressing the UK's full solidarity with Azerbaijan in the face of the unacceptable Iranian drone strikes on Nakhchivan Airport and nearby sites. The UK condemns such attacks for thr...
Answered 17 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectronic Cigarettes: Health ServicesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118169More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration has been given to the provision of cessation support to adult vapers to quit when they are ready to do so.
Answer: In the short and medium term, vaping is less harmful than smoking and can be an effective quit aid for adult smokers, especially when combined with behavioural support. However, children, and adult non-smokers, should never vape, and the long-term health ...
Answered 16 Mar 2026
Original Parliament recordElectronic CigarettesDepartment of Health and Social CareTabled 5 Mar 2026AnsweredUIN 118168More
Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what consideration his Department has given to data from the Office for National Statistics highlighting that for the first time there are more adult vapers in Great Britain than there are smokers.
Answer: The Department continues to monitor the latest data on smoking and vaping prevalence, including the figures published by the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The 2024 ONS Adult Smoking Habits in the UK data shows that 10% of adults in Great Britain, ...
Answered 23 Mar 2026
Original Parliament record
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