Anti-competitive behaviour, including excessive pricing and abuse of a dominant position, is a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department asks the CMA to investigate where it has concerns about abuses of competition law for generic medicines and where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of the legislation, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service.

As the press release cited by the Hon. Member demonstrates, the current legal and enforcement regime in this area allows for effective action to be taken in relevant cases, and the responsible agencies will continue to take such action whenever necessary.

Following the recent Court of Appeal judgment upholding the CMA's findings in relation to hydrocortisone tablets, the Department is considering the appropriate next steps. Any sums recovered are returned to the NHS and support frontline patient care.

Anti-competitive behaviour, including excessive pricing and abuse of a dominant position, is a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department asks the CMA to investigate where it has concerns about abuses of competition law for generic medicines and where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of the legislation, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service.

As the press release cited by the Hon. Member demonstrates, the current legal and enforcement regime in this area allows for effective action to be taken in relevant cases, and the responsible agencies will continue to take such action whenever necessary.

Following the recent Court of Appeal judgment upholding the CMA's findings in relation to hydrocortisone tablets, the Department is considering the appropriate next steps. Any sums recovered are returned to the NHS and support frontline patient care.

Anti-competitive behaviour, including excessive pricing and abuse of a dominant position, is a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department asks the CMA to investigate where it has concerns about abuses of competition law for generic medicines and where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of the legislation, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service.

As the press release cited by the Hon. Member demonstrates, the current legal and enforcement regime in this area allows for effective action to be taken in relevant cases, and the responsible agencies will continue to take such action whenever necessary.

Following the recent Court of Appeal judgment upholding the CMA's findings in relation to hydrocortisone tablets, the Department is considering the appropriate next steps. Any sums recovered are returned to the NHS and support frontline patient care.

Anti-competitive behaviour, including excessive pricing and abuse of a dominant position, is a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department asks the CMA to investigate where it has concerns about abuses of competition law for generic medicines and where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of the legislation, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service.

As the press release cited by the Hon. Member demonstrates, the current legal and enforcement regime in this area allows for effective action to be taken in relevant cases, and the responsible agencies will continue to take such action whenever necessary.

Following the recent Court of Appeal judgment upholding the CMA's findings in relation to hydrocortisone tablets, the Department is considering the appropriate next steps. Any sums recovered are returned to the NHS and support frontline patient care.

Anti-competitive behaviour, including excessive pricing and abuse of a dominant position, is a matter for the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The Department asks the CMA to investigate where it has concerns about abuses of competition law for generic medicines and where companies are found by the CMA to be in breach of the legislation, the Department will seek damages and invest that money back into the National Health Service.

As the press release cited by the Hon. Member demonstrates, the current legal and enforcement regime in this area allows for effective action to be taken in relevant cases, and the responsible agencies will continue to take such action whenever necessary.

Following the recent Court of Appeal judgment upholding the CMA's findings in relation to hydrocortisone tablets, the Department is considering the appropriate next steps. Any sums recovered are returned to the NHS and support frontline patient care.

This information is publicly available on Ofwat's website.

The information requested falls under the remit of the UK Statistics Authority.

A response to the Hon gentleman Parliamentary Question of 9th September is attached.

Through the Warm Homes Plan (WHP), the Government is rolling out cost-effective, clean energy technologies that reduce bills including solar, batteries, and heat pumps.

Low-income households can access fully-funded grant support through the Warm Homes: Local Grant and the Warm Homes: Social Housing Fund where the grants will cover the full cost of measures installed including heating system upgrades. A total of £4.4 billion has been put aside for low-income schemes up to 2030.

Additionally, universal grants of up to £9,000 are available for heat pump installations through the Boiler Upgrade Scheme, and the WHP also committed to a brand-new scheme offering low interest, government-backed consumer loans supported with £2 billion of public funding.

We’re also taking direct action to reduce energy bills including removing VAT charges on electricity bills, removing policy costs at the last Budget worth an average of £150 per year, and expanding the Warm Homes Discount to six million households last winter and confirming that level of support for the rest of the decade.

The department has not made a formal assessment of the merits of introducing regional variations in summer holiday dates.

School holidays are not determined at national level and are decided locally by trusts, schools and local authorities, depending on the school type.

The department encourages collaboration between schools, trusts and local authorities in the setting of term dates to minimise any disruption or inconvenience to families. In doing so, they should consider the importance of regular school attendance to children’s attainment, wellbeing and wider development.

The department will keep this policy area under review, including considerations of the impacts of different approaches to school holiday arrangements.

The Government recognises the importance of swimming lessons. Swimming is a great way for people of all ages to stay fit and healthy as well as being a crucial life skill in terms of water safety, which is why it is a mandatory part of the primary PE National Curriculum.

Sport England, our arm’s-length body for grassroots sport, is investing £16.45 million into Swim England, the National Governing Body for swimming in England with responsibility for developing the sport across the country, for the funding period 2022-2029 to increase swimming participation and invest in grassroots swimming initiatives.

The ongoing responsibility for providing access to public leisure facilities lies at local authority level, and swimming lesson pricing is determined by individual clubs and operators.

We know that users of heating oil have been particularly impacted by the rise in prices due to the Middle East conflict. It is clear that the heating oil sector is not working as it should for consumers and we will fight the corner of all those affected by the rise in heating oil prices.

I note the concerns about price disparity between regions, the price of heating oil is not set by Government and suppliers are subject to UK competition and consumer protection law. Therefore, pricing should be fair, transparent and reflective of genuine market conditions - and we would ensure that any price gouging behaviour is appropriately dealt with. However, it should be noted that the CMA's market study found no widespread evidence of suppliers making excessive material profits.

In Scotland, £4.6 million has been allocated to the Scottish Emergency Oil Heating Scheme, which launched on 1 April 2026. The scheme aims to support vulnerable households with the increased cost of oil or LPG for heating. Households on a means-tested benefit, or those in financial hardship who have additional vulnerabilities, may be able to get support. The scheme is delivered by Advice Direct Scotland. More details can be found at: https://homeheatingadvice.scot/faqs/, or by calling 0800 048 7413.

We are considering the CMA’s recommendations to create a fairer system for households and commit to issuing an official response within 90 days.