Asked by: Lord Mendoza (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to develop a new drugs strategy in the light of the increase in nitazene-related overdoses and deaths in the UK.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The number of drug related overdoses and deaths remains too high. We are committed to saving lives, including with access to high-quality treatment. A continued focus on drugs and drug-related harms is key to addressing the problem and helping deliver the Government’s Safer Streets and Health Missions.
The Government has amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand access to naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication. The legislation means more services and professionals are able to supply this medication, which in turn means easier access to it for people at risk, and for their loved ones.
In 2025/26, the Department is providing £310 million, additional to the Public Health Grant, to deliver the recommendations from Dame Carol Black’s independent review. We are working on announcing multi-year funding allocations for drug and alcohol treatment from 2026/27.
The Department works with local authorities to improve drug and alcohol treatment and provides monitoring, data, guidance, and targeted support. The Commissioning Quality Standard, which is available in an online only format on the GOV.UK website, provides guidance for local authorities to support them in commissioning effective drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services.
In line with standard risk assessment processes, the Government is undertaking work to estimate the potential future scale of mortality linked to synthetic opioids, including nitazenes. The Department is working with other Government departments on enhancing surveillance and early warning in response to the threat of synthetic opioids. As part of this we have established new data streams, including collecting information on deaths linked to nitazenes through laboratory testing and ambulance callouts in which the opioid antidote naloxone was administered. The first quarterly report of data from these sources is expected to be published this summer. An ad hoc report on deaths linked to synthetic opioids was published last year.
For these reasons, the Government currently has no plans to develop a new drugs strategy.
Asked by: Lord Mendoza (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the scale of nitazene-related deaths in the next 10 years, and what steps they are taking to measure the occurrence of nitazene overdoses; and whether they plan to publish data on those overdoses.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The number of drug related overdoses and deaths remains too high. We are committed to saving lives, including with access to high-quality treatment. A continued focus on drugs and drug-related harms is key to addressing the problem and helping deliver the Government’s Safer Streets and Health Missions.
The Government has amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand access to naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication. The legislation means more services and professionals are able to supply this medication, which in turn means easier access to it for people at risk, and for their loved ones.
In 2025/26, the Department is providing £310 million, additional to the Public Health Grant, to deliver the recommendations from Dame Carol Black’s independent review. We are working on announcing multi-year funding allocations for drug and alcohol treatment from 2026/27.
The Department works with local authorities to improve drug and alcohol treatment and provides monitoring, data, guidance, and targeted support. The Commissioning Quality Standard, which is available in an online only format on the GOV.UK website, provides guidance for local authorities to support them in commissioning effective drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services.
In line with standard risk assessment processes, the Government is undertaking work to estimate the potential future scale of mortality linked to synthetic opioids, including nitazenes. The Department is working with other Government departments on enhancing surveillance and early warning in response to the threat of synthetic opioids. As part of this we have established new data streams, including collecting information on deaths linked to nitazenes through laboratory testing and ambulance callouts in which the opioid antidote naloxone was administered. The first quarterly report of data from these sources is expected to be published this summer. An ad hoc report on deaths linked to synthetic opioids was published last year.
For these reasons, the Government currently has no plans to develop a new drugs strategy.
Asked by: Lord Mendoza (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how they are supporting local authorities, local drugs information systems and professional information networks to respond to the increase in nitazene-related overdoses.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The number of drug related overdoses and deaths remains too high. We are committed to saving lives, including with access to high-quality treatment. A continued focus on drugs and drug-related harms is key to addressing the problem and helping deliver the Government’s Safer Streets and Health Missions.
The Government has amended the Human Medicines Regulations 2012 to expand access to naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication. The legislation means more services and professionals are able to supply this medication, which in turn means easier access to it for people at risk, and for their loved ones.
In 2025/26, the Department is providing £310 million, additional to the Public Health Grant, to deliver the recommendations from Dame Carol Black’s independent review. We are working on announcing multi-year funding allocations for drug and alcohol treatment from 2026/27.
The Department works with local authorities to improve drug and alcohol treatment and provides monitoring, data, guidance, and targeted support. The Commissioning Quality Standard, which is available in an online only format on the GOV.UK website, provides guidance for local authorities to support them in commissioning effective drug and alcohol treatment and recovery services.
In line with standard risk assessment processes, the Government is undertaking work to estimate the potential future scale of mortality linked to synthetic opioids, including nitazenes. The Department is working with other Government departments on enhancing surveillance and early warning in response to the threat of synthetic opioids. As part of this we have established new data streams, including collecting information on deaths linked to nitazenes through laboratory testing and ambulance callouts in which the opioid antidote naloxone was administered. The first quarterly report of data from these sources is expected to be published this summer. An ad hoc report on deaths linked to synthetic opioids was published last year.
For these reasons, the Government currently has no plans to develop a new drugs strategy.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how artificial intelligence could be used in the screening of prostate cancer; and whether they are currently investing in this technology.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is testing artificial intelligence (AI) in the areas that cause the most harm to health and to our economy, including prostate cancer. Through the £113 million AI in Health and Care Award, 86 technologies have been supported, including three projects specifically focused on prostate cancer. One of these is the Paige prostate cancer detection tool, developed by the University of Oxford.
To help provide timely personalised treatment plans, only those patients most at risk of prostate cancer undergo an invasive biopsy, and NHS England has implemented a best-practice timed pathway for prostate cancer, which begins with a multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scan.
In summer 2024, NHS England conducted a baseline assessment of AI auto-contouring systems, which showed that 39 National Health Service trusts had implemented some form of AI for radiotherapy treatment planning. The Department is aware of very early-stage trials into AI prostate cancer detection, and we look forward to seeing the results. For national screening programmes, the Government follows the advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC currently does not recommend screening for prostate cancer as the current best test is not accurate enough for use in asymptomatic men.
Asked by: Lord Taylor of Warwick (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how artificial intelligence can be used to analyse biopsy samples in patients with prostate cancer to help provide personalised treatment plans.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department is testing artificial intelligence (AI) in the areas that cause the most harm to health and to our economy, including prostate cancer. Through the £113 million AI in Health and Care Award, 86 technologies have been supported, including three projects specifically focused on prostate cancer. One of these is the Paige prostate cancer detection tool, developed by the University of Oxford.
To help provide timely personalised treatment plans, only those patients most at risk of prostate cancer undergo an invasive biopsy, and NHS England has implemented a best-practice timed pathway for prostate cancer, which begins with a multi-parametric magnetic resonance imaging scan.
In summer 2024, NHS England conducted a baseline assessment of AI auto-contouring systems, which showed that 39 National Health Service trusts had implemented some form of AI for radiotherapy treatment planning. The Department is aware of very early-stage trials into AI prostate cancer detection, and we look forward to seeing the results. For national screening programmes, the Government follows the advice of the UK National Screening Committee (UK NSC). The UK NSC currently does not recommend screening for prostate cancer as the current best test is not accurate enough for use in asymptomatic men.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their planned advertising restrictions on less healthy food on commercial broadcasters' advertising revenues.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has set a bold ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever and will take action to address the childhood obesity crisis. This requires a range of policies, which is why we have set out decisive action in the 10-Year Health Plan. As part of this, we are committed to implementing the advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online. These restrictions are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets per year in the United Kingdom and deliver approximately £2 billion in health benefits. The restrictions are expected to reduce childhood obesity by 20,000 cases. The restrictions specifically target categories of products that have been identified as of most concern in relation to childhood obesity. However, we also recognise that the restrictions will have an impact on businesses, and we have therefore made sure that the restrictions are proportionate and strike the right balance between health benefits and impact on businesses, for example ensuring that brand advertising which does not identify less healthy food or drink products is not in the scope of the policy.
Asked by: Baroness Redfern (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of how the expansion of prehabilitation and rehabilitation services in cancer care could (1) contribute to cost saving in the NHS, and (2) improve patient outcomes.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department and NHS England are taking a number of steps to support systems to deliver cost-effective, lifesaving prehabilitation and rehabilitation services. Local planning for prehabilitation and rehabilitation services is devolved to National Health Service trusts and Cancer Alliances in their locality.
NHS England has highlighted the positive impact of efficient prehabilitation and rehabilitation on cancer outcomes and the potential to lead to cost savings. The PRosPer Cancer Prehabilitation and Rehabilitation learning programme, launched in partnership between NHS England and Macmillan Cancer support, aims to support allied health professionals and the wider healthcare workforce in developing their skills in providing personalised care, prehabilitation, and rehabilitation in the cancer pathway.
The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will look at how we can improve patient outcomes, and will cover the entirety of the cancer pathway, from referral and diagnosis to treatment and ongoing care, including prehabilitation and rehabilitation services where appropriate.
Asked by: Baroness Fraser of Craigmaddie (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the devolved administrations about the impact of the discontinuation of care worker visas on care provision.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Adult social care is a devolved matter. Prior to publication of the Immigration White Paper, devolved administrations were invited to submit their proposals for inclusion and had the opportunity to discuss the paper. Post-publication engagement with the devolved administrations has continued at both ministerial and senior official level to discuss the impacts of reforms.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their planned advertising restrictions on less healthy food on reducing the calorie intake of children (1) in total per year, and (2) per child per year.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has set a bold ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever and will take action to address the childhood obesity crisis. This requires a range of policies, which is why we have set out decisive action in the 10-Year Health Plan. As part of this, we are committed to implementing the advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online. These restrictions are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets per year in the United Kingdom and deliver approximately £2 billion in health benefits. The restrictions are expected to reduce childhood obesity by 20,000 cases. The restrictions specifically target categories of products that have been identified as of most concern in relation to childhood obesity. However, we also recognise that the restrictions will have an impact on businesses, and we have therefore made sure that the restrictions are proportionate and strike the right balance between health benefits and impact on businesses, for example ensuring that brand advertising which does not identify less healthy food or drink products is not in the scope of the policy.
Asked by: Lord Harper (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of their planned advertising restrictions on less healthy food on reducing child obesity.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Government has set a bold ambition to raise the healthiest generation of children ever and will take action to address the childhood obesity crisis. This requires a range of policies, which is why we have set out decisive action in the 10-Year Health Plan. As part of this, we are committed to implementing the advertising restrictions for less healthy food and drink on television and online. These restrictions are expected to remove up to 7.2 billion calories from children’s diets per year in the United Kingdom and deliver approximately £2 billion in health benefits. The restrictions are expected to reduce childhood obesity by 20,000 cases. The restrictions specifically target categories of products that have been identified as of most concern in relation to childhood obesity. However, we also recognise that the restrictions will have an impact on businesses, and we have therefore made sure that the restrictions are proportionate and strike the right balance between health benefits and impact on businesses, for example ensuring that brand advertising which does not identify less healthy food or drink products is not in the scope of the policy.