Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what the formal role of NHS England will be in delivering an effective Life Sciences Industrial Strategy and Sector Deal.

The National Health Service will be a key partner in the delivery of the Life Sciences Industrial Strategy (LSIS) and Sector Deal. We are working with sector representatives to establish a Life Sciences Council which will oversee the LSIS and future phases of the Deal. Chaired by the Secretaries of State, the Council will include NHS England, and sector representatives. An Implementation Board, responsible for delivery of the first Sector Deal, will report to this Council, reviewing progress against objectives at quarterly meetings. Similarly, we expect to see governance bringing together broad representation from across the health sector, including the Government and NHS England.