Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many NHS Clinical Commissioning Groups offer IVF and other fertility treatments to single women; and how much was spent on such treatment in the last three years.

NHS England do not collect data on the number of clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) that offer in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or their expenditure on this specific treatment, although it is estimated that the National Health Services spends approximately £100 million a year on IVF.

The level of provision of fertility treatment is decided by CCGs, taking into account the needs of their local population. CCGs have a legal duty to have regard to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines and NHS England and NHS Improvement expects all those involved in commissioning fertility treatment services to be fully aware of their importance. In taking clinical decisions about fertility treatment and taking account of their public sector equality duty, CCGs should make assessments based on clinical infertility and not on relationship status