My Department has not made a specific assessment of how delays in planning decisions have affected housing supply, but our 2025 planning reforms were judged by the Office for Budget Responsibility to add £6.8bn to the economy and boost UK housebuilding to its highest level in 40 years by 2029/30.

The government recognises the importance of an efficient planning system in supporting housebuilding, which is why it is significantly increasing its ambition to grow the planning workforce. Building on the original commitment to recruit 300 planners, it is now targeting around 1,400 new recruits across the planning system by the end of this Parliament. This is backed by an additional £48 million committed at the 2025 Budget to strengthen public-sector planning capacity, alongside wider support including specialist training through the Planning Advisory Service and targeted funding to help authorities accelerate applications.

Defra’s Codes of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs, Cats and Horses advise owners about the importance of temperature control to avoid them becoming too hot or too cold, as well as not leaving them in unsuitable places like conservatories and vehicles during hot weather.

Animal welfare groups such as the RSPCA and Dogs Trust, and the British Veterinary Association provide advice to owners on how to look after pets in hot weather. Advice includes keeping animals in the shade where possible, keeping them hydrated, going for walks when it’s cooler and testing the temperature of pavements with one’s hand before walks.

There are no plans to convene a taskforce on medicine shortages.

There are around 14,000 licensed medicines and the overwhelming majority are in good supply. Medicine supply chains are complex, global and highly regulated and there are a number of reasons why supply can be disrupted. Many of these are not specific to the United Kingdom and outside of Government control, including manufacturing difficulties, access to raw materials, sudden demand spikes or distribution and regulatory issues.

To help manage these risks, the Department and NHS England are committed to strengthening long term supply chain resilience and continually improving how we prevent, mitigate, and manage supply issues to protect patients from shortages.

The Department, working closely with NHS England, is taking forward a range of actions to further strengthen our ability to anticipate, mitigate, and manage shortages. As part of that work, we continue to engage with industry, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, and other colleagues across the supply chain. However, medicine shortages are a complex and global issue, and improving resilience requires action from all parts of the supply chain through a collaborative approach.

In August 2025, the Department published a policy paper, Managing a robust and resilient supply of medicines, which provides greater transparency of the supply chains we rely on, the actions we take to protect patients from medicines shortages when they occur, and the steps being taken to strengthen resilience. Later this year, we will publish an update on progress against those commitments and set out further actions to strengthen the resilience of our medicines supply chains. The paper is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/managing-a-robust-and-resilient-supply-of-medicines/managing-a-robust-and-resilient-supply-of-medicines

No assessment of the amount of time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages has been made. However, this issue has been considered when we consulted on proposals to enable pharmacist flexibilities when dispensing medicines. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines#how-to-respond

Pharmacists were invited to submit evidence to inform the accompanying impact assessment as to the number of times and time taken to source medicines for patients. We will issue a formal consultation response in the coming months.

The Department has an online reporting tool, known as the Discontinuations and Shortages (DaSH) portal, launched in October 2020, which suppliers can use to notify the Department.

We issue National Health Service communications on supply issues when they arise, to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients. The Department has produced guidance leaflets for patients, community pharmacies, and general practitioners to support them during medicines shortages. These are also available on the Specialist Pharmacy Services website at the following link:

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medicines-shortages-leaflets-and-posters/

We consulted on proposals to enable pharmacist flexibilities when dispensing medicines and have considered the responses to this consultation, with further information available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines#how-to-respond

We will issue a formal consultation response in the coming months.

No assessment of the amount of time spent by pharmacists trying to source medications during shortages has been made. However, this issue has been considered when we consulted on proposals to enable pharmacist flexibilities when dispensing medicines. More information is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines/enabling-pharmacist-flexibilities-when-dispensing-medicines#how-to-respond

Pharmacists were invited to submit evidence to inform the accompanying impact assessment as to the number of times and time taken to source medicines for patients. We will issue a formal consultation response in the coming months.

The Department has an online reporting tool, known as the Discontinuations and Shortages (DaSH) portal, launched in October 2020, which suppliers can use to notify the Department.

We issue National Health Service communications on supply issues when they arise, to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients. The Department has produced guidance leaflets for patients, community pharmacies, and general practitioners to support them during medicines shortages. These are also available on the Specialist Pharmacy Services website at the following link:

https://www.sps.nhs.uk/articles/medicines-shortages-leaflets-and-posters/

The Government has recently increased funding for the community pharmacy sector by £340 million in 2026/27, a 10% cash uplift that supports pharmacies across England and patients' access to medicines. This builds on the 19% uplift to the community pharmacy budget across 2024/25 and 2025/26. The Government recognises the financial and operational pressures facing community pharmacy, including those associated with medicines supply issues, and remains committed to working with the sector to support a sustainable pharmacy network.

Access to community pharmacy remains strong, with over 80% of the population living within one mile of a pharmacy, alongside more than 400 distance-selling pharmacies which provide medicines directly to patients' homes. Local authorities' Health and Wellbeing Boards regularly assess pharmaceutical need through Pharmaceutical Needs Assessments, which inform integrated care board commissioning decisions and help ensure patients continue to have access to pharmaceutical services where they are needed.

Medicines supply issues are primarily driven by global manufacturing, commercial, and distribution factors. While we cannot always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of established tools to manage them and mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, use of alternative strengths or forms of a medicine to allow patients to remain on the same product, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing National Health Service communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients.

The Government has carefully considered the potential impacts of the steel trade measure, including in relation to supply and prices. We will monitor the implementation of the measure closely and maintain regular engagement with producers and downstream users to understand supply chain impacts. The measure will also be reviewed after 12 months.

The Department is aware of the discontinuation of hydrocortisone sodium phosphate 100 milligram/1 millilitre solution for injection, and we continue to work with industry to find a longer-term solution.

Hydrocortisone sodium succinate 100 milligram powder remains available for patients. We have issued comprehensive management guidance to healthcare professionals on how to manage patients while supply is disrupted. The guidance highlighted the differences between the two hydrocortisone injections. It also included resources for patients and healthcare professionals on how to administer the alternative hydrocortisone injection.

We also understand that The Addison’s Self Help Group has also published information on this discontinuation to keep patients informed, along with resources for patients on how to administer the alternative hydrocortisone.

Act-O-Vial currently is not available as a licenced medicine in the United Kingdom and the decision to market a product in the UK lies with the manufacturer of the product. However, we are working closely with the manufacturer, specialist importers, and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) to understand the options available for supplies to be made available to UK patients. Currently, specialist importers are able to source unlicensed supplies for patients. We have updated our communications to healthcare professionals to advise them of this option. Furthermore, the MHRA recognises the concerns raised about the withdrawal of the previously marketed liquid hydrocortisone injection. We have not had any conversations with the Office for Life Sciences about this product.

Following a review of the current regulatory position, the MHRA can confirm that any marketing authorisation application for a liquid hydrocortisone injection product submitted to the MHRA will be rapidly progressed.

Should a company choose to submit an application for such a product, the MHRA would prioritise its assessment, recognising the clear clinical importance. However, decisions regarding the development, manufacture, and marketing of medicines rest solely with the companies that hold, or seek to hold, the relevant product licences. The MHRA cannot compel companies to supply a medicine.

The Department is aware of a supply issue with Latanoprost 50 micrograms/millilitre and Timolol five milligram/millilitre eye drops 0.2 millilitre unit dose preservative free. We are currently working with the impacted manufacturer, suppliers of alternatives, and National Health Service specialists to understand the situation and will issue guidance to NHS prescribers as soon as possible, in line with the robust procedures already in place.

While we can’t always prevent supply issues from occurring, we have a range of well-established processes and tools to manage them when they arise and to mitigate risks to patients. These include close and regular engagement with suppliers, expediting regulatory procedures, sourcing unlicensed imports from abroad, adding products to the restricted exports and hoarding list, use of Serious Shortage Protocols, and issuing NHS communications to provide management advice and information on the issue to healthcare professionals including pharmacists, so they can advise and support their patients.

It is important that all patients, including children, experiencing a stay in hospital are discharged promptly from hospital with the right support to promote better patient outcomes. The Department does not hold data on delays in hospital discharge for children due to a lack of medical equipment and has not assessed regional disparities in these delays.

The Government is working closely with industry and regulators to ensure the resilience of jet fuel supply and the continuity of commercial aviation operations. There has been no evidence of changes in flight schedules or short notice cancellations due to fuel shortage in the UK. We are engaging with industry partners to monitor supply and demand, and to develop contingency options should disruption arise.

Private jets are used for a variety of reasons such as medical and emergency response, specialised industry logistics, government and military use as well corporate and leisure flights. They account for only a small proportion of overall jet fuel use - in the region of 1-1.5% of fuel used on flights departing UK aerodromes each year are used for private jets - so any restriction would be likely to have only a limited effect in conserving fuel for commercial aviation.

The Government is working closely with industry and regulators to ensure the resilience of jet fuel supply and the continuity of commercial aviation operations. There has been no evidence of changes in flight schedules or short notice cancellations due to fuel shortage in the UK. We are engaging with industry partners to monitor supply and demand, and to develop contingency options should disruption arise.

Private jets are used for a variety of reasons such as medical and emergency response, specialised industry logistics, government and military use as well corporate and leisure flights. They account for only a small proportion of overall jet fuel use - in the region of 1-1.5% of fuel used on flights departing UK aerodromes each year are used for private jets - so any restriction would be likely to have only a limited effect in conserving fuel for commercial aviation

As part of contingency planning, we are exploring a range of options in the event of potential disruption. Any policy would have to assess the proportionality, impacts and feasibility of potential measures.

The Government is working closely with industry and regulators to ensure the resilience of jet fuel supply and the continuity of commercial aviation operations. There has been no evidence of changes in flight schedules or short notice cancellations due to fuel shortage in the UK. We are engaging with industry partners to monitor supply and demand, and to develop contingency options should disruption arise.

Private jets are used for a variety of reasons such as medical and emergency response, specialised industry logistics, government and military use as well corporate and leisure flights. They account for only a small proportion of overall jet fuel use - in the region of 1-1.5% of fuel used on flights departing UK aerodromes each year are used for private jets - so any restriction would be likely to have only a limited effect in conserving fuel for commercial aviation.

The Government is working closely with industry and regulators to ensure the resilience of jet fuel supply and the continuity of commercial aviation operations. There has been no evidence of changes in flight schedules or short notice cancellations due to fuel shortage in the UK. We are engaging with industry partners to monitor supply and demand, and to develop contingency options should disruption arise.

Private jets are used for a variety of reasons such as medical and emergency response, specialised industry logistics, government and military use as well corporate and leisure flights. They account for only a small proportion of overall jet fuel use - in the region of 1-1.5% of fuel used on flights departing UK aerodromes each year are used for private jets - so any restriction would be likely to have only a limited effect in conserving fuel for commercial aviation

As part of contingency planning, we are exploring a range of options in the event of potential disruption. Any policy would have to assess the proportionality, impacts and feasibility of potential measures.

The Department is closely monitoring the Middle East conflict to assess any potential impact on United Kingdom medical supply chains through disruptions to manufacturing and logistics.

There have been limited impacts on generic medicines and the wider medical supply chain to date. We have limited direct exposure to the Middle East for medical products, and maintain well-established contingency arrangements to manage supply disruptions where these occur. These can include coordination of mutual aid, work to identify alternative products, alternative clinical practices, regulatory easements, and/or use of the Express Freight Service which can provide bespoke global logistics services in the event of critical supply disruption.