Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the consultation undertaken by NICE on charging for technology appraisal and highly specialised technology, (a) how many and (b) what proportion of responses were (i) supportive of and (ii) opposed to the proposals; and if he will make a statement.

The Government recently consulted on draft amendments to regulations that would enable the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) to charge companies for the cost of developing technology appraisal and highly specialised technology evaluation recommendations relating to their products, as well as to allow NICE to recruit appeal panel members representing the National Health Service from the devolved administrations. 78 organisations and individuals responded to the consultation. The Government is currently analysing the responses and will publish its response in due course.