Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to increase access to new medicines for people with progressive forms of MS.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body responsible for developing evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether licenced medicines represent a clinically and cost-effective use of resources. NICE appraises all new medicines, including for multiple sclerosis and is committed, wherever possible, to publishing draft guidance at the time of licensing with final guidance published within three months of licensing.

NICE has published guidance recommending a number of medicines for multiple sclerosis for routine use on the NHS. The NHS in England is legally required to fund medicines recommended by NICE.