Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the new National Institute for Health and Care Excellence cost-effectiveness thresholds for assessing medicines will apply to other medical technologies.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government’s intention is that the increased cost-effectiveness threshold will apply to any technology, including medicines and medical technologies, evaluated through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisals programme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government how many consultations they have launched since July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

All government consultations are published on GOV.UK. Individual government departments are responsible for the consultations they lead on.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what arm's-length bodies have been created since July 2024.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

This Government was elected on a mandate of change. In order to deliver the promises we made in our manifesto, the following arms length bodies have been legislated for, launched or announced:

• Great British Energy (DESNZ)

• National Wealth Fund (HM Treasury)

• Skills England (DWP)

• Independent Football Regulator (DCMS)

• Ethics and Integrity Commission (CO)

• Single Construction Regulator (MHCLG)

• Local Audit Office (MHCLG)

• Government Commercial Agency (CO)

• Great British Railways (DfT)

• Fair Work Agency (DBT)

Question

To ask The Leader of the House when she expects a Written Answer to be given to the question asked by Baroness Shawcross-Wolfson on 10 December 2025 (HL12852).

Answered by Baroness Smith of Basildon - Leader of the House of Lords and Lord Privy Seal

The Department for Health and Social Care answered the question for written answer (HL12852) on 26th January 2026.

Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether Young Futures Hubs will be co-located with, or work with, Family Hubs.

Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government is delivering a network of 50 Young Futures Hubs by March 2029. This is a cross-government priority, coordinated with the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care.

While local authorities will decide on precise locations based on community needs, we expect co-location to be a key consideration where it improves accessibility and strengthens local support for young people.

Eight early adopters have been announced. The early adopter phase will look at how Young Futures Hubs interact with existing services, including Family Hubs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written  Answer by Baroness Merron on 26 January (HL12852), whether they intend to apply the increased cost-effectiveness threshold to technology evaluated through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s HealthTech guidance evaluation programme, or only to technology evaluated through the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisals programme.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

No decision has yet been taken on whether the increased cost-effectiveness threshold will apply to medical technologies that are evaluated by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence through its HealthTech programme.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 January (HL13271), whether they will detail their plans to reduce back-office costs in the Civil Service by 16 per cent over the next five years; and what savings will be achieved in each year up to 2030.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Spending Review 2025 set each department’s yearly administration budget and committed to reduce them by 16% in total and in real terms by 2029-30. The Spending Review details the planned administration Budgets for each department for each year between 2025-26 and 2029-30.

The reductions will be delivered through savings and efficiencies, supported by the £150 million announced at Spring Statement 2025 to help deliver employee exit schemes, and with greater embedding of a cost-conscious culture across Whitehall, including reducing travel costs.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, for the Department of Health and Social Care and each of its arm's length bodies, how many full-time equivalent staff they employ; and what their headcount was in (1) July 2024, and (2) the most recent period for which figures are available.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Department publishes this information online, on the GOV.UK website.

The table below shows the headcount and full-time equivalent (FTE) headcount of staff employed by the Department and each of its arm’s length bodies, as of July 2024 and November 2025, the most recent figures available.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 January (HL13276), when the arm's length bodies (ALB) review will be completed; and whether its findings will be published.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The review is ongoing. Outcomes will be communicated in due course.

Question to the Department for Work and Pensions:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the reasons why the number of child recipients of the Disability Living Allowance is increasing.

Answered by Baroness Sherlock - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

There have been steady increases over the last two decades in the number of children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLAc), from 230,000 in May 2002 to 840,000 in May 2025, excluding Scotland claims. These increases are driven primarily by increases in the number of claimants with learning difficulties (including Autism Spectrum Disorder), hyperkinetic syndrome (including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and behavioural disorders which have increased from 48% of the caseload in May 2002 to 83% in May 2025.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, which civil servants will have access to training from the National School of Government and Public Services; how many hours of training will be provided to civil servants; who will provide that training; and whether they will publish the proposed training curriculum.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

His Majesty’s Government is establishing the National School of Government and Public Services to strengthen the professional capability of the Civil Service.

The National School will serve over half a million civil servants. It will provide hundreds of thousands of hours of training as well as on-demand online learning. Training will be provided by a combination of civil service trainers, senior civil servants, and external providers and experts, including leading academic institutions.

We currently publish details of civil service training and will continue to do so as we expand the curriculum, focusing on priority skills including digital and AI. Further details of the proposed training curriculum will be published when the National School launches later in 2026.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the speech by the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister on 20 January, what plans they have to make changes to Civil Services human resources processes to reform performance management.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The delivery objectives of all Senior Civil Servants should be linked to the objectives of the department and minister they serve. The framework is regularly reviewed and updated in alignment with Government priorities.

Question to the Cabinet Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent on 19 January (HL13271), when they expect to publish the Civil Service strategic workforce plan; and whether they will detail its objectives.

Answered by Baroness Anderson of Stoke-on-Trent - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Civil Service is committed to publishing a Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan in the first part of this year once departments have finalised their workforce plans as per the financial settlements that were agreed with HMT in the Spending Review and the priorities set by Ministers, including those set out in the Autumn Budget.

The Civil Service Strategic Workforce Plan will set out how the Civil Service workforce will meet the Government’s policies of reducing back office costs by 16% by 2030, halving consultancy spend and targeting spending on front line services.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 22 January (HL13638), what assessment they have made of the cumulative impact of legislation passed since July 2024 on the administrative burden of regulation on business.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

The Government has established a baseline for the administrative burden of regulation on businesses of £22.4bn a year, and a resulting £5.6bn target. As set out in the technical annex to policy paper ‘A new approach to ensure regulators and regulation support growth’ (21^st October 2025), these estimates apply from the start of April 2025 and reflect all UK government regulation at the time, including since July 2024.

Where gross administrative burdens are added after April 2025, savings will be found in other areas, so the net administrative burden is reduced by £5.6bn by the end of this Parliament.

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Lloyd of Effra on 22 January (HL13638), what assessment they have made of their progress in cutting the administrative burden of regulation on business.

Answered by Baroness Lloyd of Effra - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)

Government is making progress to reduce the administrative burden of regulation on businesses by 25% by the end of this Parliament.

As set out in the October Regulation Action Plan progress update, we have identified £1.5bn in gross administrative savings through measures like the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which is accelerating the delivery of 1.5m new homes and critical infrastructure, making annual savings of £272m; modernising corporate reporting requirements, making annual savings of £230m, and; providing access to data and speeding up work to operate and repair pipes and cables by establishing the National Underground Asset Register, saving £185m annually.

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Livermore on 5 January (HL13130), whether the expert reviews into public service inefficiencies, announced on 19 January, represent the review of value for money across government spending announced in the Budget.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

At the Budget last year, the Chancellor announced that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury will lead a review of value for money across government spending. The recommendations from this review will then be considered at the next Spending Review.

A further announcement was made on the 19th January, outlining the four key areas of focus and how a review into each will work. This includes drawing on expertise from across the public and private sector.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 13 January (HL13304), what plans there are for co-operation between the Independent Review for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD and Autism and the Young People and Work Report led by Alan Milburn.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Independent Review for Mental Health Conditions, ADHD, and Autism, and the Young People and Work Report led by Alan Milburn are complementary. The chairs and the secretariats are in regular discussion to ensure cooperation.

Question to the Department for Education:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Smith of Malvern on 5 January (HL13131), when they expect to be in a position to share more information on the planned review of childcare provision.

Answered by Baroness Smith of Malvern - Minister of State (Department for Work and Pensions)

The Childcare Review is currently in the early stages of cross government discussions to consider how the early education and childcare alongside family support works for families and children. We will also be working with stakeholders throughout the year to gather insights and build our evidence base. We aim to conclude the Review later this year.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the press release about the UK–US pharmaceuticals deal issued on 1 December 2025, what was the specific basis on which the 25 per cent increase in medicine pricing was calculated; and what proportion of that increase corresponds to (1) a change to the cost effectiveness thresholds, and (2) the introduction of a new value set for judging health states.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The United Kingdom and United States’ pharmaceutical deal included a commitment to raise spending on innovative medicines, as a proportion of gross domestic product, from approximately 0.3% to 0.35% by the end of 2028 and to 0.6% over a 10-year period. This represents approximate rises of 0.05% by 2028 and 0.3% over a 10-year period respectively, versus the starting position estimated. Further detail, including data sources, will be confirmed in due course.

As part of the US and UK trade agreement, NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced joint analysis to estimate the cost impact of implementing two potential measures into the pricing environment, specifically an increase of NICE’s standard threshold range to £25,000 to £35,000 per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALYs), and the introduction of the EQ5D-5L value set for estimating QALYs.

NICE’s analysis estimated the expected price impacts for new medicine launches based on a retrospective analysis of previous recommendations, including assumptions around the potential for an increase in the number of positive recommendations. NHS England applied these assumptions to a generalised projection of spend on new medicines and new indications over the next three years. The analysis assumes that the profile of spend associated with medicines expected to launch in future will follow the same average growth profile as has been observed historically.

The analysis suggests that the majority of the price increase will result from the change to the cost effectiveness thresholds, but the exact contribution of each will depend on which medicines NICE recommends for National Health Service use. This is not something that we can predict at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, in regard to the UK–US pharmaceuticals deal, by what percentage of GDP the UK will increase spending on medicines; when that increase will be in place; and whether that increase applies to both private and public sources of spending.

Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The United Kingdom and United States’ pharmaceutical deal included a commitment to raise spending on innovative medicines, as a proportion of gross domestic product, from approximately 0.3% to 0.35% by the end of 2028 and to 0.6% over a 10-year period. This represents approximate rises of 0.05% by 2028 and 0.3% over a 10-year period respectively, versus the starting position estimated. Further detail, including data sources, will be confirmed in due course.

As part of the US and UK trade agreement, NHS England and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) produced joint analysis to estimate the cost impact of implementing two potential measures into the pricing environment, specifically an increase of NICE’s standard threshold range to £25,000 to £35,000 per Quality Adjusted Life Year (QALYs), and the introduction of the EQ5D-5L value set for estimating QALYs.

NICE’s analysis estimated the expected price impacts for new medicine launches based on a retrospective analysis of previous recommendations, including assumptions around the potential for an increase in the number of positive recommendations. NHS England applied these assumptions to a generalised projection of spend on new medicines and new indications over the next three years. The analysis assumes that the profile of spend associated with medicines expected to launch in future will follow the same average growth profile as has been observed historically.

The analysis suggests that the majority of the price increase will result from the change to the cost effectiveness thresholds, but the exact contribution of each will depend on which medicines NICE recommends for National Health Service use. This is not something that we can predict at this time as it depends on which drugs come to market and which are assessed as approved for use on the NHS accordingly.