Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department plans to take steps to amend regulations to ensure patients' access to early-phase clinical trials for (a) all diseases and (b) diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
Answered by Will Quince
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is introducing new legislation and guidance as part of a swathe of new measures that represent the biggest overhaul in United Kingdom clinical trials regulation in over 20 years.
The agency will introduce more streamlined and efficient application processes, making it easier to apply for trials in the UK, but without compromising on safety standards, including legislating for a combined MHRA/research ethics review. Internationally competitive approval timelines will also be introduced, with more flexibility for sponsors to respond to questions raised by regulators.
These changes will make the UK regulatory environment more attractive for sponsors to bring their trials to the UK, supporting more trials to be run on all kinds of medicines, including treatments for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.
The new legislation will help patients access more trials by bolstering the attractiveness of the UK as a destination for innovative and ground-breaking trials of life-saving medicines.
Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to help ensure that early career researchers are supported in engaging in research on (a) diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and (b) other similar diseases.
Answered by Will Quince
Brain tumour research, including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma and similar diseases, remains a challenging scientific area, with a relatively small research community. We are working closely with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission (TJBCM) in hosting customised workshops for researchers, and training for clinicians. These actions will grow capacity for brain cancer research, attracting new researchers, developing the community, and supporting researchers to submit high-quality research funding proposals.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research and the TJBCM recently announced two appointments to the inaugural Tessa Jowell Fellowship programme. These 12-month fellowships will support high quality training in neuro-oncology clinical practice and research, to ensure clinicians are equipped with the relevant research skills needed to lead neuro-oncology trials that change practice.
Additionally, the TJBCM have designated 28 adult Tessa Jowell Centres of Excellence within the National Health Service, which has created a world-class network of brain tumour treatment and research centres to provide the best care and share best practice.
Asked by: Alun Cairns (Conservative - Vale of Glamorgan)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what additional support his Department plans to make available for off-grid care homes on increased energy costs.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government has announced the Alternative Fuel Payments (non-domestic), which will provide off-grid businesses and non-domestic consumers using alternative fuels, such as care homes, with a one-off fixed payment of £150 through electricity suppliers.