Asked by: Lord Booth-Smith (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of diabetes research funding capacity.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There has been no specific assessment of diabetes research funding capacity. The Department commissions research through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including diabetes. In the 2024/25 financial year, the NIHR invested £33 million in direct research funding on diabetes.
Asked by: Lord Booth-Smith (Conservative - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to expand diabetes prevention programmes.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no plans to expand the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme this year. The programme continues to be delivered at existing levels, with 160,000 places available nationally in 2025/2026.
The programme has been available nationally since 2018. Offered as a face to face or digital service, nearly 1.8 million general practice referrals have been made to date. Independent evaluation has shown that the programme is highly effective, with those completing the programme reducing their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 37% compared to those who do not attend.