Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to page 66 of the Women's Health Strategy for England, published on 30 August 2022, whether his Department has taken steps to encourage research on the use of FemTech apps to help women understand hormonal fluctuations.

The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Subject to receiving high-quality applications, the NIHR expects to commission a new policy research unit dedicated to reproductive health to inform policy. An evaluation of health technology and apps for women has been identified as a potential topic for this unit. Applications are currently being reviewed, with the unit expected to operate from January 2024.