Baroness Cumberlege

It has not proved possible to respond to this question in the time available before Prorogation. Ministers will correspond directly with the Member.

Whilst no recent changes have been made to the patient opt-out process, we are considering further engagement with the public, patients, service users, staff and stakeholders. This will include raising awareness of the opt-out system, with the aim of making the process simpler and more transparent and how tools such as a transparency statement could help patients understand how their data is used. We will provide further details in the data strategy for health and social care, due for publication in spring 2022.

In July 2021, we committed that the General Practice Data for Planning and Research programme will not access patient data until the following criteria has been met:

- the ability to delete data if patients choose to opt-out of sharing their data with NHS Digital, even if this is after their data has been uploaded;

- the backlog of opt-outs has been fully cleared;

- a trusted research environment has been developed and implemented by NHS Digital; and

- patients have been made more aware of the scheme through a campaign of engagement and communication.

NHS Digital is redesigning the programme with input from stakeholders to take account of these commitments and professional, public and stakeholder feedback. Data collection will begin when the National Data Guardian, the Royal College of General Practitioners and the British Medical Association are satisfied with the proposed arrangements. As part of our data strategy, we will engage on how the opt-out system works in practice, with the aim of making the process simpler and more transparent.

Patients can view how data is used through NHS Digital’s data release register. This shows monthly information on who data has been shared with, which data has been shared and for what specific purpose.

The Department engaged with HM Treasury on redress prior to cross-Government approval of the response to the Independent Medicines and Medical Devices Safety Review.

Data on how many people have registered such an opt-out is not held centrally. NHS Digital reports that the current number of registered national data opt-outs is 3,066,543.

NHS England and NHS Improvement have advised that there are currently no plans to undertake such a review. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence COVID-19 rapid guideline: dialysis service delivery, sets out guidance for clinicians to maximise the safety of patients on dialysis during the pandemic, both at home and in dialysis units. It contains recommendations for providers to continue and maintain current home dialysis provision where possible and to consider the possibility of increasing provision for new incident patients. A copy of the guideline is attached.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are undertaking a national Renal Transformation Programme starting later in 2021. As part of this, ways to incentivise home dialysis will be considered, which may include use of tariffs or other commissioning levers.

NHS England and NHS Improvement are undertaking a national Renal Transformation Programme starting later in 2021. As part of this, ways to incentivise home dialysis will be considered, which may include use of tariffs or other commissioning levers.

No assessment has been made. NHS England collects data on cancer waiting times and these data are published on their website. The data comprises of organisational performance against operational standards that support waiting time commitments laid out in the NHS Constitution. These include the standard that 96% of patients should begin first definitive treatment for all cancers within a maximum of 31 days from diagnosis.

In April 2016 97.4% of patients waited 31 days from diagnosis to first definitive treatment for all cancers and 94.9% for urological cancers.

The data is collected at tumour group level and it is not possible to identify metastatic kidney cancer.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has confirmed that appraisals of cancer technologies started prior to 1 April 2016 will be considered using the updated NICE methods and processes which came into effect on 1 April 2016. Companies whose technologies fall under this scenario have been offered the opportunity to make a case for consideration within the Cancer Drugs Fund.

No formal assessment has been made.

Although cancer survival rates are at a record high and continue to improve, we know that we have to strive to be better. The independent Cancer Taskforce report, Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes: A strategy for England 2015-2020, published in July last year, recommends improvements across the cancer patient pathway. A copy of the report is attached.

NHS England is currently working with partners across the health system to deliver the Cancer Taskforce’s recommendations. An implementation plan, Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes: Taking the strategy forward, was published on 12 May 2016 and we hope to see great progress as it is delivered. A copy of the implementation plan is attached.

NHS England is leading a range of activities relating to the future of molecular diagnostics which over time will begin to inform new approaches to the prediction and prevention of disease as well as the application of new targeted therapies, in support of delivering the ambitions set out in the 5 Year Forward View. These include: the re-procurement of Genomics Local Laboratory Hubs; the establishment of a Task Force to oversee development of a new national strategy for cancer; and the coordination of the NHS contribution to the 100,000 Genomes Project which includes the building of a new molecular pathology network. In addition to this, NHS England is conducting analysis to clarify legacy arrangements for commissioning molecular diagnostics and identify future commissioning mechanisms.

Section 118 of the Health and Social Care Act sets out the terms of reference under which consultation for Tariff proposals should be undertaken. As the consultation is statutory it has to be undertaken as stated in the Act. In addition, the proposals were subject to consultation by virtue of section 69(7) of that Act.

NHS England is leading a range of activities relating to the future of molecular diagnostics which over time will begin to inform new approaches to the prediction and prevention of disease as well as the application of new targeted therapies, in support of delivering the ambitions set out in the 5 Year Forward View. These include: the re-procurement of Genomics Local Laboratory Hubs; the establishment of a Task Force to oversee development of a new national strategy for cancer; and the coordination of the NHS contribution to the 100,000 Genomes Project which includes the building of a new molecular pathology network. In addition to this, NHS England is conducting analysis to clarify legacy arrangements for commissioning molecular diagnostics and identify future commissioning mechanisms.

NHS England is leading a range of activities relating to the future of molecular diagnostics which over time will begin to inform new approaches to the prediction and prevention of disease as well as the application of new targeted therapies, in support of delivering the ambitions set out in the 5 Year Forward View. These include: the re-procurement of Genomics Local Laboratory Hubs; the establishment of a Task Force to oversee development of a new national strategy for cancer; and the coordination of the NHS contribution to the 100,000 Genomes Project which includes the building of a new molecular pathology network. In addition to this, NHS England is conducting analysis to clarify legacy arrangements for commissioning molecular diagnostics and identify future commissioning mechanisms.

The independent Cancer Taskforce has been set up to produce a new cross-system national cancer strategy to take us through the next five years to 2020, building on NHS England’s vision for improving cancer outcomes set out in the NHS Five Year Forward View. It has been set up in partnership with the cancer community and other health system leaders, and is chaired by the Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK.

The new strategy will set a clear direction covering the whole cancer pathway from prevention to end of life care, including molecular diagnostics. The Taskforce will produce a statement of intent this month, and the new strategy will be published in summer 2015.

The independent Cancer Taskforce has been set up to produce a new cross-system national cancer strategy to take us through the next five years to 2020, building on NHS England’s vision for improving cancer outcomes set out in the NHS Five Year Forward View. It has been set up in partnership with the cancer community and other health system leaders, and is chaired by the Chief Executive of Cancer Research UK.

The new strategy will set a clear direction covering the whole cancer pathway from prevention to end of life care, including molecular diagnostics. The Taskforce will produce a statement of intent this month, and the new strategy will be published in summer 2015.

Section 13 (1), (2) (Statement of community involvement) will be brought into force on 31 July 2018, as set out in the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 (Commencement No. 3) Regulations 2018.

My Department can confirm the following provisions from the Neighbourhood Planning Act 2017 have not been brought into force:

Section 6: Assistance in connection with neighbourhood planning

Section 7: Engagement by examiners with qualifying bodies

Section 13: Statements of community involvement

Section 8(2): Content of development plan documents

Sections 18 – 28 and 31: Temporary possession of land (except section 26(8)(b))

Sections 39 and 40: Other provisions relating to compulsory purchase