Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions, if any, they have had with the (1) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and (2) NHS England, about the ambition of the NICE Methods Review; and whether the ambition of the review meets the targets of the Life Sciences Vision.

Officials have discussed the ambition of the methods review with the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and NHS England and NHS Improvement. We are supportive of NICE’s proposals, which are consistent with the expectations set out in the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access, agreed with industry. NICE’s review of its methods and processes will ensure it retains global leadership in the evaluation and appraisal of new medicines and technologies. As reflected in the Life Sciences Vision, this will support our ambition to promote the United Kingdom as the best place in the world to develop, trial, launch and adopt innovative new medicines.