Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential merits of including broader value elements, such as societal and economic benefits, in the health technology assessment of vaccines.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department works closely with the UK Health Security Agency and NHS England to design, implement, and deliver programmes offering high levels of long-term protection against preventable diseases.
When doing so, the Department takes into consideration the expert advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), an independent departmental expert committee. The JCVI bases its advice and recommendations on evidence of the burden of disease, of vaccine safety and efficacy, and of the impact and cost effectiveness of immunisation strategies.
Broader socio-economic factors such as productivity costs from illness, improved educational attainment from reduced school absences, and out-of-pocket expenses and opportunity costs from attending a vaccination may be highlighted by the JCVI or other colleagues across the tripartite to inform policy-making.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether patients with a cancer diagnosis will have access to local genomic testing; and if so, what is the timeline for that access to be in place.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The 10-Year Health Plan committed to every cancer patient having the choice to receive a comprehensive genomic analysis and molecular profiling, where appropriate. The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS) ensures equitable access to genomic testing for cancer patients across England through seven regional GMS geographies working with Cancer Alliances and National Health Service trusts. Genomic testing is delivered by a national network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs, guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes over 200 cancer indications for a range of genomic tests, including whole genome sequencing. In 2025/26, NHS England is continuing its Cancer Genomics Improvement Programme for a second year to deliver quality improvement initiatives, education, local engagement, and to establish Cellular Pathology Genomic Centres to streamline cancer genomics pathways and accelerate genomic testing.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the need for greater pricing transparency in the mobile and broadband sector where some deals are accessible only through negotiation at the end of fixed contracts.
Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
I refer the Rt Honourable Lady to the answer given on 27 October 2025 to Question UIN HL10944.
People need to feel empowered when interacting with the telecoms market so they can be confident that they are getting a fair and transparent deal. DSIT’s Secretary of State wrote to Ofcom’s CEO on 31st October to ask for its assessment of telecoms consumer protections and what further action should be taken.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they intend to recognise the result of the upcoming general election in Myanmar; and whether they will raise the issue of that election at the United Nations General Assembly.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer provided on 3 November to Question HL11182.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports that the Arakan Army has committed human rights violations in northwestern Myanmar; and what steps they are taking bilaterally and through international mechanisms to ensure accountability for those abuses.
Answered by Baroness Chapman of Darlington - Minister of State (Development)
The UK remains deeply concerned by reports of human rights violations in western Myanmar. We are aware of allegations involving armed actors in the region and continue to push for accountability for such abuses, wherever they occur.
As penholder on Myanmar at the UN Security Council, we convened six Council meetings in 2024 and three so far in 2025 to spotlight the crisis, including the first open meeting in five years focused on the Rohingya. We also co-sponsored the UN Human Rights Council resolution in April (2025) on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, condemning ongoing violations particularly against ethnic minorities.
The UK has provided £900,000 to the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar since 2021 to support the collection, verification, and preservation of evidence for future prosecution, and established the Myanmar Witness programme to verify open-source evidence of human rights violations.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to embed genetic testing in cancer treatment pathways, and whether additional funding will be available to NHS trusts for that testing.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The NHS Genomic Medicine Service (GMS), commissioned by NHS England, ensures equitable access to genomic testing for cancer patients across England through seven regional GMS geographies working with Cancer Alliances and National Health Service trusts. Genomic testing is delivered by a national network of seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs (GLHs), guided by the National Genomic Test Directory, which includes over 200 cancer indications for a range of genomic tests, including whole genome sequencing. Seven NHS GMS Alliances are funded to embed genomic medicine into clinical pathways and raise awareness among clinicians and patients. Funding for GLHs is agreed annually in line with NHS England funding allocations, with NHS England working with GLHs to drive efficiency and maximise available resources. In 2025/26, NHS England is continuing its Cancer Genomics Improvement Programme for a second year to deliver quality improvement initiatives, education, local engagement, and to establish Cellular Pathology Genomic Centres to streamline cancer genomics pathways and accelerate genomic testing.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure users of artificial intelligence platforms can safely access mental health support and are protected from harmful content such as suicide and self-harm content.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
We recognise the growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) platforms and the potential risks they pose, particularly when people are seeking mental health support.
The National Health Service operates within a comprehensive regulatory framework for AI, underpinned by rigorous standards for safety and effectiveness. Publicly available AI applications that are not deployed by the NHS are not regulated as medical technologies and may offer incorrect or harmful information. Users are strongly advised to be careful when using these technologies.
Regardless of whether content is created by AI or humans, the Online Safety Act places robust duties on all in-scope services to prevent users encountering illegal content including content on suicide and self-harm.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with NHS trusts and pharmaceutical companies about the use of genomic testing to support cancer pathways.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England commissions the NHS Genomic Medicine Service (NHS GMS) to provide standardised, high quality, and equitable access to genomic medicine across the National Health Service in England. NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry have established an NHS Genomic Pharmaceutical Industry Strategic Advisory Group, to provide a framework for engagement with industry partners to support the strategic aims of the NHS GMS and system partners. This is a forum to align on priorities and identify mechanisms to support agreed improvements across the end-to-end genomics pathway, including in cancer, that will enable timely patient access to treatments and opportunities to participate in clinical trials.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the report by the Circulation Foundation and Legs Matter Act now to save limbs and lives, published in May, what assessment they have made of the current challenges in the diagnosis and treatment of peripheral arterial disease.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England commissions the National Vascular Registry which provides information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who had major vascular procedures in National Health Service hospitals. The registry produces quarterly and annual reports. It aims to support vascular services to provide high quality care for these people, and shares examples of good practice as well as highlighting areas which merit further investigation in order to improve care.
NHS England commissions vascular arterial care from a number of specialist centres to ensure appropriate management of peripheral arterial disease. The service specifications recommend a "hub and spoke" model, where a central, high-volume arterial centre, or the "hub", provides round-the-clock, specialist arterial surgery and complex endovascular interventions. A multi-disciplinary team approach is used and is hosted by the hub.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they are promoting a multidisciplinary approach to the management of peripheral arterial disease that involves vascular surgeons, cardiologists, radiologists and primary care providers; and how that approach will be supported across the NHS.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
NHS England commissions the National Vascular Registry which provides information on the quality and outcomes of care for adults who had major vascular procedures in National Health Service hospitals. The registry produces quarterly and annual reports. It aims to support vascular services to provide high quality care for these people, and shares examples of good practice as well as highlighting areas which merit further investigation in order to improve care.
NHS England commissions vascular arterial care from a number of specialist centres to ensure appropriate management of peripheral arterial disease. The service specifications recommend a "hub and spoke" model, where a central, high-volume arterial centre, or the "hub", provides round-the-clock, specialist arterial surgery and complex endovascular interventions. A multi-disciplinary team approach is used and is hosted by the hub.