Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, how many officials in her Department were working on the Trade and Investment Hub with a focus on Northern Ireland on 20 October 2023.
Answered by Nigel Huddleston - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)
In 2022 the Department for Business and Trade established a trade and investment hub in Northern Ireland.
There are currently ten officials working in the hub, led by a senior civil servant. Roles include leads for key Northern Ireland sectors, such as advanced technology and manufacturing, life and health sciences, agriculture, food and drink and the creative industries.
The team work closely with local partners and are dedicated to ensuring businesses across Northern Ireland have access to DBT services, help businesses understand what trade opportunities are available to them, and ensure Northern Ireland business interests are represented in trade policy.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of (a) the potential impact of the level of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access payment percentages on and (b) other factors affecting the decisions by pharmaceutical companies on whether to invest in the UK.
Answered by Will Quince
The Government has considered in broad terms the link between volume-based rebate payments in our medicine pricing schemes and various kinds of investment in our Impact Assessment of updates to the Statutory Scheme for branded medicines pricing, which operates alongside voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access. The Government’s 2023 Impact Assessment of updates to the Statutory Scheme is available at the following link:
We are in close discussions with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Business and Trade about the business environment for life sciences and its impact on investment.
Asked by: Mike Penning (Conservative - Hemel Hempstead)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has taken recent steps to help tackle the growth of (a) gain-of-function research and (b) any other research that modifies a virus or other pathogen to make it more transmissible, virulent and pathogenic in (i) the UK and (ii) other countries; and if he will make a statement.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The United Kingdom has extensive legislative controls to ensure the safety and security of biological research into human, animal and plant pathogens. All life sciences companies operating in the UK must adhere to UK ethics standards, research codes of conduct and associated legal obligations.
Asked by: Daisy Cooper (Liberal Democrat - St Albans)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the cap mechanism in the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access on (a) levels of investment in late stage clinical trials and (b) decisions taken by pharmaceutical companies regarding (i) whether and (ii) when to launch medicines in the UK.
Answered by Will Quince
The Government has assessed the link between the cap mechanism in our medicine pricing schemes and various kinds of investment in our impact assessment of recent updates to the statutory scheme for branded medicines pricing, which operates alongside the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access (VPAS). The Government’s 2023 impact assessment of updates to the statutory scheme is available at the following link:
The Government is working to better understand the impacts the operation of the current VPAS on the United Kingdom’s life sciences industry. We are in direct conversations with pharmaceutical companies, including in the recent pre-negotiation workshops, as well as the Department for Science Innovation and Technology, and Department for Business and Trade about the business environment for life sciences.
Controlling medicine spend is a key departmental aim for both current and future schemes to improve patient outcomes by simplifying, streamlining, and improving access, pricing, and uptake arrangements for cost effective medicines, and deliver faster adoption of most clinically and cost-effective medicines.
Asked by: Fabian Hamilton (Labour - Leeds North East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent discussions he has had with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry on the level of the voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access tax rebate.
Answered by Will Quince
I met with the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry and other relevant trade associations in advance of negotiations for the successor to the 2019 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access starting on 4 May 2023.
Negotiations are being overseen by Sir Hugh Taylor who brings with him a wealth of experience and expertise. Government is seeking a deal that meets the three agreed objectives of supporting patient access to: innovative medicines; ensuring the affordability of National Health Service spend on medicines and; supporting the life sciences sector and the wider economy.
Asked by: Mark Logan (Conservative - Bolton North East)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what digital health collaboration is in place between the UK and (a) India, (b) Japan and (c) Israel as of 13 October 2023.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department has been working with India during its G20 presidency this year, to achieve resilient, equitable and sustainable Universal Health Coverage (UHC) for all through digital health, one of the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
The Department has also been working with Japan during its G7 presidency this year, to ensure United Kingdom digital health priorities are appropriately reflected within this year’s Health Track and to explore how innovation, including digital, can help overcome some of our most pressing health challenges such as ageing populations and rising comorbidities.
In November 2021, the UK and Israel signed a Memorandum of Understanding in order to deepen and expand cooperation across mutual priorities, including Cyber, Health, Science and Technology. Israel and the UK committed to leveraging their combined research and innovation strengths to address mutual challenges, in areas such as, the COVID-19 pandemic, the future effectiveness and streamlining of health systems, and the life sciences.
Asked by: Gregory Campbell (Democratic Unionist Party - East Londonderry)
Question to the Department for Business and Trade:
To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, whether she has had recent discussions with the devolved Administrations on policies to support growth in the (a) digital technology, (b) green, (c) life sciences, (d) advanced manufacturing and (e) creative industries.
Answered by Nusrat Ghani - Minister of State (Minister for Europe)
DBT is committed to engagement with the devolved administrations in the development of policies to support businesses across the whole country and across all sectors.
For example, the Minister of State for International Trade chairs the Interministerial Group for Trade, which last met on 7 September 2023, to facilitate discussion with devolved administrations on trade policy priorities. The UK’s trade policies remove barriers, offer increased trade, and support growth for all parts of the UK economy.
DBT recently hosted the Northern Ireland Investment Summit, working closely with officials in the Northern Ireland Executive and Invest Northern Ireland to grow the advanced manufacturing and engineering, technology, financial and professional services, the green economy, and the life and health sciences sectors in Northern Ireland.
Asked by: Chi Onwurah (Labour - Newcastle upon Tyne Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made an assessment of the potential merits of introducing regular reporting to Parliament on (a) the progress and (b) the impact on private sector research and development of the Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department has no plans to re-instate the reports to Parliament on the 2019 Voluntary Scheme for Branded Medicines Pricing and Access (VPAS), which were a requirement under the 2014 The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS). This requirement was removed from the 2019 VPAS with the agreement of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry.
We are open to ideas about how a successor voluntary scheme should operate from 2024 onwards and look forward to working with industry to agree a mutually beneficial scheme that supports the sustainability of National Health Service spend on branded medicines, better patient outcomes and enables a strong life sciences industry in the United Kingdom.
Asked by: Mark Eastwood (Conservative - Dewsbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he plans to reform the NHS pathway for procurement of innovative medical technology; and when he expects the pathway to deliver timely access to medical technology.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department’s inaugural Medical Technology (MedTech) Strategy was published on 3 February 2023, building on the broader Life Sciences Vision. We are committed to ensuring that the Department utilises innovative MedTech as implementation progresses.
The MedTech Strategy includes a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the end-to-end innovation pathway, including procurement routes, to expedite patient access to MedTech and boost adoption within the National Health Service.
The Innovative Devices Access Pathway pilot was launched on 19 September 2023. This new pathway will provide multi-partner support for the rapid development of innovative technologies for adoption into the NHS to address unmet clinical needs. More information on the pilot is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-innovative-devices-access-pathway-idap
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will undertake new Multi-Technology Evaluations of technologies in use and at a later stage in their lifecycle. These evaluations will enable comparisons between similar products and support the NHS to make better informed decisions on the right product for the right price.
The Department is working closely with NHS Supply Chain and NHS England to develop a consistent methodology for value-based procurement (VBP). VBP aims to shift procurement decisions away from an emphasis on reducing product costs to working with industry to consider technologies that represent a reduction in total costs within the patient pathway. Timeframes are still being determined.
The Department will consult on updating processes on applications to Part IX of the Drug Tariff to support the adoption of innovation in primary and community care.
The NHS Innovation Service is providing innovators with the resources, tools and support they need to increase the chances of getting their product or idea adopted by the NHS. More information is available at the following link:
We plan to assess the impact of these initiatives through the MedTech Strategy Programme governance structures.
Asked by: Mark Eastwood (Conservative - Dewsbury)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to increase access to innovative medical technologies through the NHS.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department’s inaugural Medical Technology (MedTech) Strategy was published on 3 February 2023, building on the broader Life Sciences Vision. We are committed to ensuring that the Department utilises innovative MedTech as implementation progresses.
The MedTech Strategy includes a range of initiatives aimed at streamlining the end-to-end innovation pathway, including procurement routes, to expedite patient access to MedTech and boost adoption within the National Health Service.
The Innovative Devices Access Pathway pilot was launched on 19 September 2023. This new pathway will provide multi-partner support for the rapid development of innovative technologies for adoption into the NHS to address unmet clinical needs. More information on the pilot is available at the following link:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-innovative-devices-access-pathway-idap
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence will undertake new Multi-Technology Evaluations of technologies in use and at a later stage in their lifecycle. These evaluations will enable comparisons between similar products and support the NHS to make better informed decisions on the right product for the right price.
The Department is working closely with NHS Supply Chain and NHS England to develop a consistent methodology for value-based procurement (VBP). VBP aims to shift procurement decisions away from an emphasis on reducing product costs to working with industry to consider technologies that represent a reduction in total costs within the patient pathway. Timeframes are still being determined.
The Department will consult on updating processes on applications to Part IX of the Drug Tariff to support the adoption of innovation in primary and community care.
The NHS Innovation Service is providing innovators with the resources, tools and support they need to increase the chances of getting their product or idea adopted by the NHS. More information is available at the following link:
We plan to assess the impact of these initiatives through the MedTech Strategy Programme governance structures.