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 impact of delayed diagnosis and delayed escalation of care for people with atopic dermatitis, particularly on sleep, education, employment and mental health.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Specifically on atopic dermatitis, and the prescribing of appropriate emollients, the relevant doctor or healthcare professional is responsible for working with their patient and deciding on the best course of treatment. Prescribers take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards when making decisions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also publishes a range of guidance on atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions for commissioners and healthcare professionals, with recommendations for diagnosis and referral, which are available at the NICE website.
On dermatology care in general, waiting times, and the proposal for a national service framework, I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer that I provided her on 13 January in response to Question HL13259, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
Modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and will then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The Government will consider clinical specialities for future waves of modern service frameworks, including allergy, dermatology, which includes chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and immunology. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on disease burden, care variation, economic impact, and where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
The Department recognises the potential benefits of virtual clinics in improving access to specialist care for conditions like CSU. A central part of our 10-Year Health Plan is moving care closer to home, and we recognise that we need to do this while retaining access to specialist support. Trusts should provide the infrastructure and resources to facilitate virtual consultations, but this should not replace face-to-face care where it is more appropriate, dependent on clinical need, or preferred by individual patients.
NHS Englandâs service specification for specialised dermatology services for adults and children is designed to reduce regional disparities in care for CSU by setting consistent national standards for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The specification ensures that all patients, regardless of location, have access to evidence-based interventions and specialist expertise, including advanced therapies where clinically appropriate. The specification addresses historical variations in service provision and supports equitable access across integrated care systems. This approach helps to improve outcomes for patients with CSU and ensures a more uniform level of care throughout England.
Additionally, NHS Englandâs Getting It Right First Time programme is working to improve capacity and waiting times through its established Further Faster programme. This programme brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams with the challenge of collectively going âfurther and fasterâ to transform patient pathways, reduce unnecessary follow-up outpatient appointments, and improve access and waiting times for patients.
A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced, to share best practice and support National Health Service dermatology teams to reduce the number of Did Not Attend appointments, reduce unnecessary follow ups and, where appropriate, reduce the number of outpatient appointments by booking patients straight to tests, helping to free up capacity for patients in need of specialist dermatology services.
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 implement a new NHS England and Department of Health and Social Care-led national service framework for dermatology.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Specifically on atopic dermatitis, and the prescribing of appropriate emollients, the relevant doctor or healthcare professional is responsible for working with their patient and deciding on the best course of treatment. Prescribers take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards when making decisions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also publishes a range of guidance on atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions for commissioners and healthcare professionals, with recommendations for diagnosis and referral, which are available at the NICE website.
On dermatology care in general, waiting times, and the proposal for a national service framework, I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer that I provided her on 13 January in response to Question HL13259, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
Modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and will then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The Government will consider clinical specialities for future waves of modern service frameworks, including allergy, dermatology, which includes chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and immunology. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on disease burden, care variation, economic impact, and where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
The Department recognises the potential benefits of virtual clinics in improving access to specialist care for conditions like CSU. A central part of our 10-Year Health Plan is moving care closer to home, and we recognise that we need to do this while retaining access to specialist support. Trusts should provide the infrastructure and resources to facilitate virtual consultations, but this should not replace face-to-face care where it is more appropriate, dependent on clinical need, or preferred by individual patients.
NHS Englandâs service specification for specialised dermatology services for adults and children is designed to reduce regional disparities in care for CSU by setting consistent national standards for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The specification ensures that all patients, regardless of location, have access to evidence-based interventions and specialist expertise, including advanced therapies where clinically appropriate. The specification addresses historical variations in service provision and supports equitable access across integrated care systems. This approach helps to improve outcomes for patients with CSU and ensures a more uniform level of care throughout England.
Additionally, NHS Englandâs Getting It Right First Time programme is working to improve capacity and waiting times through its established Further Faster programme. This programme brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams with the challenge of collectively going âfurther and fasterâ to transform patient pathways, reduce unnecessary follow-up outpatient appointments, and improve access and waiting times for patients.
A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced, to share best practice and support National Health Service dermatology teams to reduce the number of Did Not Attend appointments, reduce unnecessary follow ups and, where appropriate, reduce the number of outpatient appointments by booking patients straight to tests, helping to free up capacity for patients in need of specialist dermatology services.
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 waiting times for people with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis to access specialist dermatology care.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Specifically on atopic dermatitis, and the prescribing of appropriate emollients, the relevant doctor or healthcare professional is responsible for working with their patient and deciding on the best course of treatment. Prescribers take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards when making decisions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also publishes a range of guidance on atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions for commissioners and healthcare professionals, with recommendations for diagnosis and referral, which are available at the NICE website.
On dermatology care in general, waiting times, and the proposal for a national service framework, I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer that I provided her on 13 January in response to Question HL13259, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
Modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and will then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The Government will consider clinical specialities for future waves of modern service frameworks, including allergy, dermatology, which includes chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and immunology. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on disease burden, care variation, economic impact, and where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
The Department recognises the potential benefits of virtual clinics in improving access to specialist care for conditions like CSU. A central part of our 10-Year Health Plan is moving care closer to home, and we recognise that we need to do this while retaining access to specialist support. Trusts should provide the infrastructure and resources to facilitate virtual consultations, but this should not replace face-to-face care where it is more appropriate, dependent on clinical need, or preferred by individual patients.
NHS Englandâs service specification for specialised dermatology services for adults and children is designed to reduce regional disparities in care for CSU by setting consistent national standards for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The specification ensures that all patients, regardless of location, have access to evidence-based interventions and specialist expertise, including advanced therapies where clinically appropriate. The specification addresses historical variations in service provision and supports equitable access across integrated care systems. This approach helps to improve outcomes for patients with CSU and ensures a more uniform level of care throughout England.
Additionally, NHS Englandâs Getting It Right First Time programme is working to improve capacity and waiting times through its established Further Faster programme. This programme brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams with the challenge of collectively going âfurther and fasterâ to transform patient pathways, reduce unnecessary follow-up outpatient appointments, and improve access and waiting times for patients.
A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced, to share best practice and support National Health Service dermatology teams to reduce the number of Did Not Attend appointments, reduce unnecessary follow ups and, where appropriate, reduce the number of outpatient appointments by booking patients straight to tests, helping to free up capacity for patients in need of specialist dermatology services.
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 reduce prescribing restrictions and ensure consistent access to appropriate emollients for patients living with atopic dermatitis.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Specifically on atopic dermatitis, and the prescribing of appropriate emollients, the relevant doctor or healthcare professional is responsible for working with their patient and deciding on the best course of treatment. Prescribers take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards when making decisions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also publishes a range of guidance on atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions for commissioners and healthcare professionals, with recommendations for diagnosis and referral, which are available at the NICE website.
On dermatology care in general, waiting times, and the proposal for a national service framework, I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer that I provided her on 13 January in response to Question HL13259, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
Modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and will then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The Government will consider clinical specialities for future waves of modern service frameworks, including allergy, dermatology, which includes chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and immunology. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on disease burden, care variation, economic impact, and where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
The Department recognises the potential benefits of virtual clinics in improving access to specialist care for conditions like CSU. A central part of our 10-Year Health Plan is moving care closer to home, and we recognise that we need to do this while retaining access to specialist support. Trusts should provide the infrastructure and resources to facilitate virtual consultations, but this should not replace face-to-face care where it is more appropriate, dependent on clinical need, or preferred by individual patients.
NHS Englandâs service specification for specialised dermatology services for adults and children is designed to reduce regional disparities in care for CSU by setting consistent national standards for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The specification ensures that all patients, regardless of location, have access to evidence-based interventions and specialist expertise, including advanced therapies where clinically appropriate. The specification addresses historical variations in service provision and supports equitable access across integrated care systems. This approach helps to improve outcomes for patients with CSU and ensures a more uniform level of care throughout England.
Additionally, NHS Englandâs Getting It Right First Time programme is working to improve capacity and waiting times through its established Further Faster programme. This programme brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams with the challenge of collectively going âfurther and fasterâ to transform patient pathways, reduce unnecessary follow-up outpatient appointments, and improve access and waiting times for patients.
A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced, to share best practice and support National Health Service dermatology teams to reduce the number of Did Not Attend appointments, reduce unnecessary follow ups and, where appropriate, reduce the number of outpatient appointments by booking patients straight to tests, helping to free up capacity for patients in need of specialist dermatology services.
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 support more dermatology care being delivered in community settings, where clinically appropriate.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Specifically on atopic dermatitis, and the prescribing of appropriate emollients, the relevant doctor or healthcare professional is responsible for working with their patient and deciding on the best course of treatment. Prescribers take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards when making decisions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also publishes a range of guidance on atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions for commissioners and healthcare professionals, with recommendations for diagnosis and referral, which are available at the NICE website.
On dermatology care in general, waiting times, and the proposal for a national service framework, I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer that I provided her on 13 January in response to Question HL13259, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
Modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and will then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The Government will consider clinical specialities for future waves of modern service frameworks, including allergy, dermatology, which includes chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and immunology. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on disease burden, care variation, economic impact, and where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
The Department recognises the potential benefits of virtual clinics in improving access to specialist care for conditions like CSU. A central part of our 10-Year Health Plan is moving care closer to home, and we recognise that we need to do this while retaining access to specialist support. Trusts should provide the infrastructure and resources to facilitate virtual consultations, but this should not replace face-to-face care where it is more appropriate, dependent on clinical need, or preferred by individual patients.
NHS Englandâs service specification for specialised dermatology services for adults and children is designed to reduce regional disparities in care for CSU by setting consistent national standards for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The specification ensures that all patients, regardless of location, have access to evidence-based interventions and specialist expertise, including advanced therapies where clinically appropriate. The specification addresses historical variations in service provision and supports equitable access across integrated care systems. This approach helps to improve outcomes for patients with CSU and ensures a more uniform level of care throughout England.
Additionally, NHS Englandâs Getting It Right First Time programme is working to improve capacity and waiting times through its established Further Faster programme. This programme brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams with the challenge of collectively going âfurther and fasterâ to transform patient pathways, reduce unnecessary follow-up outpatient appointments, and improve access and waiting times for patients.
A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced, to share best practice and support National Health Service dermatology teams to reduce the number of Did Not Attend appointments, reduce unnecessary follow ups and, where appropriate, reduce the number of outpatient appointments by booking patients straight to tests, helping to free up capacity for patients in need of specialist dermatology services.
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 improve the diagnosis and treatment of atopic dermatitis in primary care.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Specifically on atopic dermatitis, and the prescribing of appropriate emollients, the relevant doctor or healthcare professional is responsible for working with their patient and deciding on the best course of treatment. Prescribers take account of appropriate national guidance on clinical effectiveness, as well as the local commissioning decisions of their respective integrated care boards when making decisions. The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) also publishes a range of guidance on atopic dermatitis and other skin conditions for commissioners and healthcare professionals, with recommendations for diagnosis and referral, which are available at the NICE website.
On dermatology care in general, waiting times, and the proposal for a national service framework, I refer the Noble Baroness to the answer that I provided her on 13 January in response to Question HL13259, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below:
Modern service frameworks will define an aspirational, long-term outcome goal for a major condition and will then identify the best evidenced interventions and the support for delivery. The Government will consider clinical specialities for future waves of modern service frameworks, including allergy, dermatology, which includes chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and immunology. The criteria for determining other conditions for future modern service frameworks will be based on disease burden, care variation, economic impact, and where there is potential for rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity.
The Department recognises the potential benefits of virtual clinics in improving access to specialist care for conditions like CSU. A central part of our 10-Year Health Plan is moving care closer to home, and we recognise that we need to do this while retaining access to specialist support. Trusts should provide the infrastructure and resources to facilitate virtual consultations, but this should not replace face-to-face care where it is more appropriate, dependent on clinical need, or preferred by individual patients.
NHS Englandâs service specification for specialised dermatology services for adults and children is designed to reduce regional disparities in care for CSU by setting consistent national standards for diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up. The specification ensures that all patients, regardless of location, have access to evidence-based interventions and specialist expertise, including advanced therapies where clinically appropriate. The specification addresses historical variations in service provision and supports equitable access across integrated care systems. This approach helps to improve outcomes for patients with CSU and ensures a more uniform level of care throughout England.
Additionally, NHS Englandâs Getting It Right First Time programme is working to improve capacity and waiting times through its established Further Faster programme. This programme brings together hospital trust clinicians and operational teams with the challenge of collectively going âfurther and fasterâ to transform patient pathways, reduce unnecessary follow-up outpatient appointments, and improve access and waiting times for patients.
A Further Faster handbook for dermatology has been produced, to share best practice and support National Health Service dermatology teams to reduce the number of Did Not Attend appointments, reduce unnecessary follow ups and, where appropriate, reduce the number of outpatient appointments by booking patients straight to tests, helping to free up capacity for patients in need of specialist dermatology services.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to seek an international agreement on prohibiting the development of super-intelligent AI.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government takes seriously the potential risks from increasingly capable AI systems, including the possibility of systems behaving in unintended or unforeseen ways. Our priority is to ensure that the British people are protected as these technologies develop.We will follow the evidence and take whatever proportionate action is necessary where serious risks emerge.
The UK works with bilateral and multilateral partners to advance secure, trustworthy, and responsible AI across countries, built on a shared understanding of capabilities and risks, including through the International AI Safety Report and the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science, which the UK is currently Coordinator of and which met recently in Seoul to discuss best practice in AI evaluations.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Cabinet Office:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans, if any, they have to prohibit the development of super-intelligent AI.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Parliamentary Secretary (Cabinet Office)
The Government takes seriously the potential risks from increasingly capable AI systems, including the possibility of systems behaving in unintended or unforeseen ways. Our priority is to ensure that the British people are protected as these technologies develop.We will follow the evidence and take whatever proportionate action is necessary where serious risks emerge.
The UK works with bilateral and multilateral partners to advance secure, trustworthy, and responsible AI across countries, built on a shared understanding of capabilities and risks, including through the International AI Safety Report and the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science, which the UK is currently Coordinator of and which met recently in Seoul to discuss best practice in AI evaluations.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of interruptions to flights from several airports in the UK on 8 September due to issues with national air traffic control services.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The Government apologises to passengers across the United Kingdom who faced significant disruption as a result of the issues that impacted NATSâ operation on 8 September, resulting in delays and cancellations for a large number of passengers, as well as the disruption that it has caused for industry. Let us be clear that disruption of this kind is absolutely unacceptable.
Department for Transport officials worked closely with NATS, airports and airlines throughout the incident and recovery period to monitor impacts and provide support where necessary. The Department also provided night flight alleviations, where required, to assist airports in recovering operations.
The Secretary of State asked NATS to provide a report by Wednesday 16 September setting out the cause of the incident and the actions taken in response and has also asked the CAA to conduct an independent review into this matter immediately. The Department will continue to work closely with NATS and the Civil Aviation Authority to ensure the root cause is fully understood, lessons are identified, and appropriate steps are taken to minimise the risk of similar disruption occurring in future.
Asked by: Baroness Ritchie of Downpatrick (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the merits of replacing business rates with a land value tax.
Answered by Lord Pitt-Watson - Parliamentary Secretary (HM Treasury)
The Government is committed to creating a fairer business rates system over the course of this Parliament that protects the high street, supports investment, and is fit for the 21st century.
The Call for Evidence on business rates and investment, published at Budget 2025, built on the findings of the Transforming Business Rates Discussion Paper and asked stakeholders for more detailed evidence on how the business rates system influences investment decisions. The Government are carefully considering representations received, and a Government response to the Call for Evidence will be published in due course.