Asked by: Beth Winter (Labour - Cynon Valley)
Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:
To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if she will commission an independent review of the adequacy of disability benefits rates at covering the costs and needs of disabled people, including for people with multiple sclerosis.
Answered by Tom Pursglove - Minister of State (Minister for Legal Migration and Delivery)
I refer the Hon. Member to the answer to Question UIN 60904 given by my Hon. Friend, on 17 October 2022.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
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 monitor the effectiveness of (a) Parkinson's, (b) Multiple Sclerosis and (c) other specialist nurse practitioners who are employed under integrated care systems.
Answered by Helen Whately - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
The quality and safety of services, including specialist nurse practitioners, is monitored by NHS England through the NHS Oversight Framework and by the Care Quality Commission through its assessment and inspection processes.
Asked by: Rupa Huq (Labour - Ealing Central and Acton)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of providing a targeted financial support package for (a) people living with multiple sclerosis and (b) their carers.
Answered by John Glen - Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
The Government understands that people across the UK and especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as those suffering from long-term health conditions and their carers, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
If individuals have extra-costs arising from multiple sclerosis, then they may qualify for disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payments (PIP). People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as PIP, Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help disabled people with the rising cost of living. The DWP has already processed around 6 million such payments. Carers will also benefit from this payment if they live in the same household as the person for whom they care.
A one-off £650 Cost of Living Payment is also being delivered to those on means-tested benefits. Individuals who have limited ability to work because of their health condition, and are in receipt of means-tested benefits such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the Universal Credit Health top up, are eligible for this support. Carers with low incomes and in receipt of qualifying benefits such as Universal Credit will also benefit from this Cost of Living Payment.
Those living with a long-term health condition such as multiple sclerosis, and their carers, can also benefit from other forms of non-means-tested support which the Government is providing to assist with household energy bills. We have taken decisive action to support millions of households with rising energy costs this winter through the Energy Price Guarantee. In addition to the Energy Price Guarantee, millions of the most vulnerable households will receive further support this year through the £400 Energy Bills Support Scheme. The £150 Council Tax rebate will also mean that all households in Council Tax bands A-D will receive a rebate, and 99% of eligible households have already received this. Lastly, to support households who need further help or who are not eligible for elements of the wider package of support, the Government is also providing an extra £500 million of local support to help with the cost of essentials until the end of March 2023, via the Household Support Fund.
We are continuing to keep the situation under review and are focusing support on the most vulnerable whilst ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Asked by: Rachael Maskell (Labour (Co-op) - York Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to develop a clinical network for neurological conditions.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department funded National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) invests in research, clinical expertise, specialist facilities, workforce and support services across a range of clinical areas, including neurological conditions. The NIHR brings together its research centres through clinical networks. The NIHR Dementia Translational Research Collaboration is a network of leading universities, NHS trusts and research centres in the UK who carry out early translational research for dementia. The NIHR Clinical Research Network supports participation in research to advance knowledge and improve care. It has speciality areas for neurological disorders such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, dementia and neurodegeneration including Motor Neurone Disease and stroke. These speciality areas provide clinical leadership and expertise to effectively deliver studies.
Asked by: Jim Shannon (Democratic Unionist Party - Strangford)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many and what proportion of eligible patients are receiving a biologic for (a) rheumatoid arthritis, (b) dermatology, (c) immunology, (d) multiple sclerosis and (e) severe asthma as of 17 October 2022.
Answered by Will Quince
The information requested is not held centrally.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has made recommendations on the use of the biological medicines for the treatment of a range of conditions. Further information is available on the NICE website at www.nice.org.uk
NHS commissioners in England are legally required to make funding available for NICE recommended treatments so that they are available for clinicians to prescribe to patients, normally within three months of NICE’s guidance.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the potential impact of delegation of specialised commissioning responsibility from NHS England to Integrated Care Systems on multiple sclerosis care.
Answered by Will Quince
NHS England retains overall accountability for specialised services which are delegated to integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England is currently reviewing which specialised services could be delegated and move to direct management by ICBs, if it is advantageous for these services to be overseen locally. This approach will allow ICBs to work with service providers to deliver the care to meets the needs of the community.
By April 2023 we expect that some Integrated Care Boards will have taken on delegated commissioning responsibility for a portion of specialised services. This will be subject to local system and service readiness.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what support her Department provides to Integrated Care Systems to help ensure people affected by multiple sclerosis receive the best possible care.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The majority of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care, which are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England commissions the specialised elements of MS care for those with more complex health needs.
ICBs are responsible for developing a forward plan for its health services, including for MS and neurology.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps her Department are taking to encourage local commissioning areas to incorporate the needs of individuals affected by multiple sclerosis and neurology condition within local strategic planning processes.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
The majority of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care, which are commissioned locally by integrated care boards (ICBs). NHS England commissions the specialised elements of MS care for those with more complex health needs.
ICBs are responsible for developing a forward plan for its health services, including for MS and neurology.
Asked by: Steve McCabe (Labour - Birmingham, Selly Oak)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment her Department has made of the level of prioritisation of multiple sclerosis and neurology within the strategic planning documents of each of England’s 42 Integrated Care Systems.
Answered by Neil O'Brien
No specific assessment has been made. The majority of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and other neurological conditions can be cared for through routine access to primary and secondary care commissioned locally by integrated care boards. NHS England commissions the specialised elements of MS care for those with more complex health needs.
Asked by: Janet Daby (Labour - Lewisham East)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he has had discussions with Cabinet colleagues on making an assessment of the adequacy of Government support for (a) fuel and (b) other costs for people with sickle cell disease during winter 2022.
Answered by Edward Argar - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The Government understands that people across the UK and especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as those suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter and the next, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way.
Depending on their specific circumstances, it is possible that people with multiple sclerosis will qualify for disability benefits. People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help with the extra costs disabled people are facing. The DWP has already processed around 6 million such payments.
The Government is also providing a £650 Cost of Living Payment to recipients of means-tested benefits, to support people with low incomes with the rising cost of living. Individuals in receipt of means-tested disability benefits, such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance, or the Universal Credit Health top up are eligible for this support.
Those suffering from sickle cell disease may also benefit from other forms of non-means tested support which the Government is providing to assist with UK households’ energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is a scheme that will cap the unit price households pay for electricity and gas, which means that a typical household in Great Britain will have to pay bills equivalent to no more than £2500 a year on their energy bills this winter. This will support people with a disability who may need to use more energy due to their condition or treatment.
Secondly via the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which will provide £400 to help with domestic energy bills. All households in Council Tax bands A-D will also receive the Government-funded £150 Council Tax Rebate, which will be delivered by Local Authorities.
Lastly, to support households who need further help or who are not eligible for elements of the wider package of support, the Government is also providing an extra £500 million of local support to help with the cost of essentials, via the Household Support Fund.