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 Supply Chain Coordination Limited or NHS England has sought advice from or communicated with the Competition and Markets Authority since 1 April 2022 with respect to (1) their purchasing activities in relation to medical devices and technologies, and (2) promoting and safeguarding competition for suppliers, including small and medium-sized enterprises, including through electronic auctions; and if not, why not.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) complies with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as a company limited by shares. The SCCL board meeting papers are not shared for commercial sensitivity reasons.
The Act of Entrustment and Service Agreement has recently been updated and will be published by SCCL in due course. This document contains explanations for changes, which are administrative in nature and have no impact on the substance of the arrangements, or any future changes relating to the integration of NHS England and the Department.
SCCL has not sought guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority. All procurement is completed in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Procurement activity considers the needs of the National Health Service in delivering services and the implementation of Government policy, including Procurement Policy Notes. Electronic Auctions are a form of further competition under a Framework Agreement and are used when appropriate and only after the assessment of other qualitative and quantitative measures. SCCL maintains a team who provide guidance and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in supplying the NHS with clinical goods and services, operates an SME engagement forum, and currently spends approximately £1 billion per annum or 25% with SMEs.
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, with reference to the Act of Entrustment made to Supply Chain Coordination Limited, what plans they have to publish (1) any updates to the Act of Entrustment since 30 September 2021, including any relating to the further £300 million allocated to Supply Chain Coordination Limited, (2) the current service agreement between NHS England and the company, and (3) the findings of each review of the Act of Entrustment since 2021.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) complies with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as a company limited by shares. The SCCL board meeting papers are not shared for commercial sensitivity reasons.
The Act of Entrustment and Service Agreement has recently been updated and will be published by SCCL in due course. This document contains explanations for changes, which are administrative in nature and have no impact on the substance of the arrangements, or any future changes relating to the integration of NHS England and the Department.
SCCL has not sought guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority. All procurement is completed in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Procurement activity considers the needs of the National Health Service in delivering services and the implementation of Government policy, including Procurement Policy Notes. Electronic Auctions are a form of further competition under a Framework Agreement and are used when appropriate and only after the assessment of other qualitative and quantitative measures. SCCL maintains a team who provide guidance and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in supplying the NHS with clinical goods and services, operates an SME engagement forum, and currently spends approximately £1 billion per annum or 25% with SMEs.
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 Supply Chain Coordination Limited, which operates NHS Supply Chain, publishes (1) the agendas, (2) the papers, and (3) the minutes of its board meetings; if it does not, for what reasons; and what assessment they have made of whether non-publication is consistent with the transparency and good administration requirements in the Act of Entrustment.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Supply Chain Coordination Ltd (SCCL) complies with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 as a company limited by shares. The SCCL board meeting papers are not shared for commercial sensitivity reasons.
The Act of Entrustment and Service Agreement has recently been updated and will be published by SCCL in due course. This document contains explanations for changes, which are administrative in nature and have no impact on the substance of the arrangements, or any future changes relating to the integration of NHS England and the Department.
SCCL has not sought guidance from the Competition and Markets Authority. All procurement is completed in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023. Procurement activity considers the needs of the National Health Service in delivering services and the implementation of Government policy, including Procurement Policy Notes. Electronic Auctions are a form of further competition under a Framework Agreement and are used when appropriate and only after the assessment of other qualitative and quantitative measures. SCCL maintains a team who provide guidance and support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) interested in supplying the NHS with clinical goods and services, operates an SME engagement forum, and currently spends approximately £1 billion per annum or 25% with SMEs.
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 steps they are taking to ensure women with neurofibromatosis type 1 are informed of their increased breast cancer risk and offered screening, without having to request it themselves.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Patients with the complex form of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are seen in the dedicated service centres for complex NF1, who will routinely advise them of their higher risk of breast cancer, and provide support accordingly.
There is currently no systematic way of informing those without the complex form of NF1 of their risk of breast cancer and whether they are eligible for screening when they turn 40. However, there are a range of different sources of information for patients including the NHS.UK, Childhood Tumour Trust and Nerve Tumours UK websites.
National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance does not address NF1 specifically but does state that people with certain genetic conditions should be referred to a geneticist to consider their risk, and may qualify for annual breast screening between ages 40 to 50 years old.
The recommendations of the European Reference Network on Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes were issued in 2023 and, in response, the UK Cancer Genetics concluded that the evidence places most women with NF1 in the moderate-risk category, and recommended annual mammography from ages 40 to 49 years old, followed by entry into the routine NHS Breast Screening Programme from the age of 50 years old, unless additional risk factors place the individual in a higher-risk category.
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 which body is responsible for ensuring people with neurofibromatosis type 1 who are not under the care of a neurofibromatosis type 1 specialist receive regular surveillance for complications; and how access to this care is monitored.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Patients with the complex form of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are seen in the dedicated service centres for complex NF1, who will routinely advise them of their higher risk of breast cancer, and provide support accordingly.
There is currently no systematic way of informing those without the complex form of NF1 of their risk of breast cancer and whether they are eligible for screening when they turn 40. However, there are a range of different sources of information for patients including the NHS.UK, Childhood Tumour Trust and Nerve Tumours UK websites.
National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance does not address NF1 specifically but does state that people with certain genetic conditions should be referred to a geneticist to consider their risk, and may qualify for annual breast screening between ages 40 to 50 years old.
The recommendations of the European Reference Network on Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes were issued in 2023 and, in response, the UK Cancer Genetics concluded that the evidence places most women with NF1 in the moderate-risk category, and recommended annual mammography from ages 40 to 49 years old, followed by entry into the routine NHS Breast Screening Programme from the age of 50 years old, unless additional risk factors place the individual in a higher-risk category.
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, in light of the recommendations of European reference network on genetic tumour risk syndromes, whether they will review breast screening for women with neurofibromatosis type 1 for annual MRI from age 30 to 50.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Patients with the complex form of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) are seen in the dedicated service centres for complex NF1, who will routinely advise them of their higher risk of breast cancer, and provide support accordingly.
There is currently no systematic way of informing those without the complex form of NF1 of their risk of breast cancer and whether they are eligible for screening when they turn 40. However, there are a range of different sources of information for patients including the NHS.UK, Childhood Tumour Trust and Nerve Tumours UK websites.
National Institute of Health and Care Excellence guidance does not address NF1 specifically but does state that people with certain genetic conditions should be referred to a geneticist to consider their risk, and may qualify for annual breast screening between ages 40 to 50 years old.
The recommendations of the European Reference Network on Genetic Tumour Risk Syndromes were issued in 2023 and, in response, the UK Cancer Genetics concluded that the evidence places most women with NF1 in the moderate-risk category, and recommended annual mammography from ages 40 to 49 years old, followed by entry into the routine NHS Breast Screening Programme from the age of 50 years old, unless additional risk factors place the individual in a higher-risk category.
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 plan to publish the evidence on which they based their decision to legislate for the abolition of the council of governors of NHS Foundation Trusts.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published impact assessments for the Health Bill, which include an assessment of reform to the foundation trust (FT) model including abolition of the council of governors. This is available on the GOV.UK website in an online-only format.
It will remain mandatory for FTs to have effective mechanisms for engagement. However, by removing the statutory member-governor model, we are giving these organisations the freedom to design approaches reflecting their local context. These arrangements will be subject to scrutiny as part of the Department’s oversight role.
The information requested on how many people are currently members of FTs in England is not held centrally. Each FT manages their own membership and there is no standard number of members per FT. Many FTs make this information publicly available through annual reports or their 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 how many people are currently members of NHS Foundation Trusts in England.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
The Department has published impact assessments for the Health Bill, which include an assessment of reform to the foundation trust (FT) model including abolition of the council of governors. This is available on the GOV.UK website in an online-only format.
It will remain mandatory for FTs to have effective mechanisms for engagement. However, by removing the statutory member-governor model, we are giving these organisations the freedom to design approaches reflecting their local context. These arrangements will be subject to scrutiny as part of the Department’s oversight role.
The information requested on how many people are currently members of FTs in England is not held centrally. Each FT manages their own membership and there is no standard number of members per FT. Many FTs make this information publicly available through annual reports or their 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 on how many days since 1 October 2023 has there been a negative daily change in the count of people with an NHS national data opt-out; and why negative figures are not visible in the NHS National Data Opt-Out Dashboard.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Negative daily change figures are visible on the National Data Opt-Out dashboard. Between 1 October 2023 and 14 July 2026, the latest dashboard update, there have been 278 days with a negative daily change in the count of people with a National Data Opt-Out according to the dashboard.
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 since the publication of the Report of the Task and Finish Working Group on Brain Tumour Research in 2018, which individual, role or body has held responsibility for improving outcomes for patients with brain cancer across government departments, NHS bodies, regulators, research funders and delivery organisations; against which outcome measures, including survival, that responsibility has been assessed; and what the annual value of each such measure has been since the publication of that report.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
I refer the Noble Lord to the answer provided in the House of Commons on 15 June in response to Question 7745, which, for ease of reference, is reproduced below.
The National Cancer Plan, published on the 4 February 2026, sets out several commitments and ambitions, to be delivered within the next 10 years. The role of the reformed National Cancer Board will be to support and monitor the delivery of the commitments and ambitions and provide regular updates to ministers.
To hold us accountable across these commitments, and to drive forward progress for rare cancer patients, we will appoint a National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers, who will bring accountability, to oversee performance against the rare cancers commitments in the plan, including for brain cancer. They will sit on the reformed National Cancer Board and will play an important advisory role in supporting and monitoring delivery of the commitments set out in the National Cancer Plan. This role is separate to the National Specialty Lead for Rare Cancers appointed under the Rare Cancers Act 2026, which will be based in the National Institute for Health and Care Research’s (NIHR) Research Delivery Network and will support research delivery for rare cancers.
The National Cancer Plan contains a specific rare cancers ambition: by 2035 England will be in the top quartile internationally for survival outcomes across 14 less common cancers, supported by National Clinical Lead for Rare Cancers.
The Department invests over £1.8 billion each year on research through the NIHR. Cancer is a major area of NIHR spending at £141.6 million in 2024/25, reflecting its high priority.
We are committed to furthering our investment in brain cancer research and have already taken steps to stimulate scientific progress and build scientific capacity to do research on brain cancer. For example, in December 2025 an initial NIHR Brain Tumour Research Consortium award of £13.7 million was confirmed. In January 2026, the NIHR announced further investment of a minimum of £11.7 million in the Consortium through the funding of work packages. This brings the Consortium funding to over £25 million over its lifespan.
It is not the usual process of the NIHR to ringfence funds for research into specific conditions. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health and care, including brain cancer. Our approach to funding research is through open and fair competition and peer review to ensure that the highest-quality proposals, most likely to deliver real impact for patients, are funded without imposing financial targets or limits.
The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with brain cancer, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials, and innovative, lifesaving treatments through the NIHR.
As set out in the Life Sciences Sector Plan and reinforced in the 10-Year Health Plan for England, the Department is committed to cutting the current time it takes to get a clinical trial set up, to under 150 days, with the aim of increasing access to patients and making the United Kingdom a world leader in clinical trials.
Data published in April 2026 shows that the median average set-up time for commercial interventional trials in the first six months of 2025/26 was 122 days, down from 169 days in the same period last year.