James Murray

As the changes we are discussing concern a potential tax change, I am afraid I cannot give my hon. Friend further detail about any timeline, but I reiterate that I have imparted to my officials in the Treasury and HMRC the urgency that I feel about this, and that my hon. Friend and others will share. I am glad he joins me in calling on Bayer to take confidence from what we have announced and to rejoin the early access scheme as soon as possible. I again thank my hon. Friend for securing this debate, and for the constructive way in which he has raised this issue, both this evening and in the past. In concluding, I would like to pause to reflect on the impact of continued access to medicines for patients. Individual Members have raised with me the importance that early access to medicines can have, especially for those in the most tragic of circumstances, who sadly have few other options. I have been moved in hearing those cases, and it is vital that we keep those medicines accessible. I am grateful to Members from across the House for bringing this issue the attention it deserves. I am also grateful for the constructive engagement that my officials have had with the pharmaceutical sector, and I know we have a common goal of resolving the issue swiftly. I look forward to setting out further detail once that work has concluded and when final decisions have been taken. Question put and agreed to.