Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (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 extent to which patients and their families have been engaged in NICE's project to appraise the effectiveness of vorasidenib.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) is the independent body that makes evidence-based recommendations for the National Health Service on whether new medicines should be routinely funded by the NHS on the basis of an assessment of clinical and cost effectiveness. NICE develops its guidance through extensive engagement with interested parties, including patient groups.
NICE is currently evaluating vorasidenib for treating astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma with IDH1 or IDH2 mutations after surgery in people 12 years old and over. As part of the appraisal process, NICE’s independent committee was provided with evidence submissions from three patient groups. The committee also heard expert personal perspectives from two patient experts.
The draft guidance was shared with all stakeholders as well as being published on the NICE website for public comment as part of the consultation which took place between 15 October and 4 November 2025. The committee reviewed the consultation comments at the committee meeting on 20 November 2025. NICE currently expects to publish final guidance in January 2026.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Merron on 7 November (HL11405), what monitoring processes are in place to ensure that the national sample handling guidance for the whole genome sequencing of solid tumours is being implemented fully.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The performance of the NHS Genomic Medicine Service is monitored quarterly through an assurance framework, which ensures all seven NHS Genomic Laboratory Hubs are operating to national quality standards. This identifies and minimises any potential variation and ensures consistent delivery of the criteria outlined in the National Genomic Test Directory.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that more research and clinical trials are undertaken into the causes and treatment of brain cancer.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department delivers research via the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and is committed to furthering our investment and driving scientific advancements in research into the causes and treatment of brain tumours. Between 2018/19 and 2023/24, the NIHR invested £11.8 million, and UK Research and Innovation invested £46.8 million in this area.
During the same period, the NIHR’s wider investments of approximately £37.5 million in research infrastructure and the research workforce have enabled the delivery of an additional 261 brain tumour research studies, allowing over 11,400 more people to participate in brain tumour research. NIHR infrastructure provides world-class research expertise, specialist facilities, a research delivery workforce, and support services to enable and deliver research across the National Health Service and wider health and care system.
In September 2024 the NIHR launched a package of support to deliver a step-change in brain cancer research by establishing a national NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium to bring together researchers from different disciplines to drive scientific advancements in how to prevent, detect, manage, and treat brain tumours. We will announce funding decisions this year, including a dedicated funding call for research into care, support, and rehabilitation for people living with brain tumours, as well as the Allied Health Professionals Brain Tumour Research Fellowship programme, a partnership with the Tessa Jowell Brain Cancer Mission.
These funding calls mark an innovative collaboration between charities, research funders, and the Government to listen and consult with the brain tumour community to increase and accelerate research into brain tumours. The NIHR continues to welcome funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including brain tumours.
To improve clinical trial access for brain tumour patients, the 10-Year Health Plan outlines how the Department will fast-track clinical trial set-up time to 150 days by March 2026. We are building capacity to deliver clinical trials through 21 new Commercial Research Delivery Centres across the United Kingdom, and we also support the Rare Cancers Private Members Bill. Once implemented, this bill will make it easier for brain tumour patients to be recruited to clinical trials.
Additionally, the National Cancer Plan will include further details on how we will improve outcomes for cancer patients, as well as speeding up diagnosis and treatment, ensuring patients have access to the latest treatments and technology, including access to genetic testing to support treatment.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government, with regard to the third cycling and walking investment strategy, published on 3 November, what is their target reduction in the rate of cyclists and pedestrians killed and seriously injured.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, is seeking the views of stakeholders on a national vision, statutory objectives and underlying performance indicators. The shape of the final strategy, intended to be published next year including targets, will be informed by the responses to the consultation.
The Government treats road safety seriously and is committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. The Road Safety Strategy is under development and will include a broad range of policies. We intend to publish the Strategy this year.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Transport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to measure the key performance indicators in the third cycling and walking investment strategy, specifically for women and girls.
Answered by Lord Hendy of Richmond Hill - Minister of State (Department for Transport)
The consultation on the third Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, is seeking the views of stakeholders on a national vision, statutory objectives and underlying performance indicators. The shape of the final strategy, intended to be published next year including key performance indicators, will be informed by the responses to the consultation.
The Government is committed to halving violence against women and girls within a decade through prevention and overhauling society’s response to these crimes. As part of this, we are working closely with the Home Office on their cross-government Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy, which is due to be published later this year.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will appoint a national clinical director to oversee the commissioning of wheelchair services for the NHS and social care services.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There are no current plans to appoint a national clinical director to oversee the commissioning of wheelchair services for the National Health Service and social care services. Oversight of wheelchair services within the NHS and social care is provided by national bodies, that monitor different aspects of the market, and by local authorities.
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchairs services, based on the needs of their local population. We expect local commissioning to be informed by the best available evidence, including guidance issued by NHS England.
NHS England supports ICBs to commission effective, efficient, and personalised wheelchair services. This includes taking steps to support ICBs and wheelchair providers to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of NHS wheelchairs, and to support ICBs to reduce delays in people receiving timely intervention and wheelchair equipment. On 9 April 2025, NHS England published a Wheelchair Quality Framework which sets out quality standards relevant to all suppliers regardless of Care Quality Commission registration status, as well as statutory requirements for ICBs. The framework is available at the NHS.UK website.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they are taking to minimise inequality across different wheelchair services provided by the NHS and social care bodies, and to ensure consistent delivery of a good quality service.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for the provision and commissioning of local wheelchairs services, based on the needs of their local population, including the offer of a personal health budget to enable a choice of wheelchair.
There are a range of providers of National Health Service wheelchair services across England. ICBs are responsible for monitoring service provision and effectively managing contracts with their commissioned providers. We expect local commissioning to be informed by the best available evidence, including guidance issued by NHS England.
NHS England is taking steps support ICBs and wheelchair providers to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of NHS wheelchairs, and to support ICBs to reduce delays in people receiving timely intervention and wheelchair equipment. This includes publishing a Wheelchair Quality Framework on 9 April 2025, which sets out quality standards relevant to all suppliers regardless of Care Quality Commission registration status, as well as statutory requirements for ICBs. The framework is available at the NHS.UK website, in an online only format.
The Wheelchair Quality Framework aligns with the Care Quality Commission’s assessment framework and supports the aims of integrated care systems to improve outcomes in population health and health care, and to tackle inequalities in outcomes, experiences, and access. The Care Quality Commission Assessment framework is available on the Care Quality Commission’s website, in an online only format.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (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 sufficiency of expertise of NHS and social care services to commission wheelchair services and ensure a high-quality provision for users.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Oversight of wheelchair services within the National Health Service and social care is provided by national bodies, which monitor different aspects of the market, and by local authorities.
NHS England supports the integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission effective, efficient, and personalised wheelchair services. This includes taking steps support ICBs and wheelchair providers to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of NHS wheelchairs. NHS England published a Wheelchair Quality Framework on 9 April 2025, which sets out the quality standards relevant to all suppliers regardless of Care Quality Commission registration status, and statutory requirements for ICBs. The framework is available on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format.
The Government has put in place a range of initiatives to help NHS bodies make informed choices about the products and the route through which they are bought. These include the NHS Supply Chain, a national body which is responsible for procuring and delivering the majority of equipment into the NHS. The NHS Supply Chain was set up to leverage the collective buying power of the NHS, to drive savings and provide a standardised range of clinically assured quality products at the best value.
ICBs are responsible for commissioning wheelchair services, based on the need of their local population, and for having sufficient expertise to commission high quality services. ICBs will assess the market when securing local provision. This includes monitoring service provision and effectively managing contracts with their commissioned providers.
Local authorities are responsible for providing equipment that supports daily living and independence. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market and to commission a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes encouraging a wide range of service provision to ensure that people have a choice of appropriate services and equipment that maximise independence and put the wellbeing of the people who draw on care at the centre of decisions.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (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 competitiveness of the market for the supply of wheelchairs to the NHS and social care services.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Oversight of wheelchair services within the National Health Service and social care is provided by national bodies, which monitor different aspects of the market, and by local authorities.
NHS England supports the integrated care boards (ICBs) to commission effective, efficient, and personalised wheelchair services. This includes taking steps support ICBs and wheelchair providers to reduce regional variation in the quality and provision of NHS wheelchairs. NHS England published a Wheelchair Quality Framework on 9 April 2025, which sets out the quality standards relevant to all suppliers regardless of Care Quality Commission registration status, and statutory requirements for ICBs. The framework is available on the NHS.UK website, in an online only format.
The Government has put in place a range of initiatives to help NHS bodies make informed choices about the products and the route through which they are bought. These include the NHS Supply Chain, a national body which is responsible for procuring and delivering the majority of equipment into the NHS. The NHS Supply Chain was set up to leverage the collective buying power of the NHS, to drive savings and provide a standardised range of clinically assured quality products at the best value.
ICBs are responsible for commissioning wheelchair services, based on the need of their local population, and for having sufficient expertise to commission high quality services. ICBs will assess the market when securing local provision. This includes monitoring service provision and effectively managing contracts with their commissioned providers.
Local authorities are responsible for providing equipment that supports daily living and independence. Under the Care Act 2014, local authorities are tasked with the duty to shape their care market and to commission a range of high-quality, sustainable, and person-centred care and support services to meet the diverse needs of all local people. This includes encouraging a wide range of service provision to ensure that people have a choice of appropriate services and equipment that maximise independence and put the wellbeing of the people who draw on care at the centre of decisions.
Asked by: Lord Hunt of Kings Heath (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what action they have taken to incentivise investment and reduce barriers in brain cancer research for the pharmaceutical and life science sector in the areas of (1) transitional research, (2) early stage research, (3) advanced novel therapeutics, (4) optimisation of existing treatments, and (5) repurposing drug trials.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Government responsibility for delivering brain cancer research is shared between the Department for Health and Social Care, with research delivered by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, with research delivered via UK Research and Innovation (UKRI). The Medical Research Council (MRC) funds fundamental discovery science through to the development and testing of new diagnostics, therapeutic interventions, and preventive measures whilst the NIHR funds applied health and care research that turns discoveries into new or improved treatments, diagnostics, medical technologies, or services.
To bridge the gap between early findings and clinical practice, the NIHR supports translational research focused on patient-centred research and healthcare. NIHR Biomedical Research Centres take leading-edge cancer research from the laboratory and rapidly translate it into clinical trials. The NIHR Innovation Observatory scans for new opportunities to identify emerging interventions or those with the potential for repurposing.
In September 2024, the NIHR announced a new approach to transform the outcomes for patients and their families who are living with brain tumours, ultimately reducing the lives lost to cancer. This will be done by maximising the United Kingdom’s clinical trials potential and working with the life sciences sector to make the UK a leading location for brain tumour research.
The UKRI offers a broad range of funding opportunities to support brain tumour research, including in partnership with industry. The MRC has actively engaged with brain tumour researchers to encourage applications The MRC has also identified the need for better disease models which informed a recent MRC-led funding opportunity to improve human in vitro models, and which resulted in two awards that will explore improving the use of human brain tumour tissue in research.
The Government is committed to furthering our investment and support for high-quality brain tumour research, ensuring that funding is used in the most meaningful and impactful way, and the NIHR continues to welcome further high-quality proposals from researchers to inform approaches to prevention, treatment, and care in relation to brain cancer.
The Department of Health and Social Care is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with brain cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments. The forthcoming National Cancer Plan will include further details on how the National Health Service will improve diagnosis and outcomes for all cancer patients in England, including for those with brain cancer.
The Government also supports the Rare Cancers Private Members Bill. The bill will make it easier for clinical trials on brain cancer to take place in England, by ensuring the patient population can be more easily contacted by researchers.