Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of the adequacy of access to gluten-free products on people with coeliac disease in rural areas.

In addition to the wide variety of naturally gluten-free food, a wide range of gluten-free products is now readily available for purchase. The national prescribing position in England remains that gluten free bread and mixes can be provided to coeliac patients in England, including in rural areas, on National Health Service prescription and a wide range of these items continue to be listed in part XV of the Drug Tariff.

Decisions about the commissioning and funding of local health services are the responsibility of local integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England guidance should be considered when ICBs formulate local policies, and prescribers are expected to reflect local policies in their prescribing practice. Guidance does not remove the clinical discretion of prescribers in accordance with their professional duties.