Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of regional variation in England in access to, and take up of, biologic medicines for people with (1) severe asthma, and (2) chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There is currently a total of 21,654 people with severe asthma receiving a biologic for severe asthma in England. The number of people receiving a biologic is based on the number of requests received in the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, for either new initiation or continuation of asthma biologic treatment. The following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by integrated care board (ICB):
Region | Integrated care board | Patient count |
East of England | NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB | 236 |
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB | 305 | |
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB | 412 | |
NHS Mid and South Essex ICB | 285 | |
NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB | 301 | |
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB | 235 | |
London | NHS North Central London ICB | 345 |
NHS North East London ICB | 453 | |
NHS North West London ICB | 512 | |
NHS South East London ICB | 750 | |
NHS South West London ICB | 467 | |
Midlands | NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB | 593 |
NHS Black Country ICB | 488 | |
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB | 215 | |
NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB | 620 | |
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB | 247 | |
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB | 475 | |
NHS Lincolnshire ICB | 233 | |
NHS Northamptonshire ICB | 256 | |
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB | 519 | |
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB | 127 | |
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent ICB | 551 | |
North East and Yorkshire | NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB | 360 |
NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB | 1,351 | |
NHS South Yorkshire ICB | 543 | |
NHS West Yorkshire ICB | 719 | |
North West | NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB | 1,434 |
NHS Greater Manchester ICB | 1,225 | |
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB | 670 | |
South East | NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB | 969 |
NHS Frimley ICB | 172 | |
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB | 1,271 | |
NHS Kent and Medway ICB | 410 | |
NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB | 323 | |
NHS Sussex ICB | 545 | |
South West | NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB | 366 |
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB | 532 | |
NHS Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly ICB | 292 | |
NHS Devon ICB | 707 | |
NHS Dorset ICB | 381 | |
NHS Gloucestershire ICB | 356 | |
NHS Somerset ICB | 403 |
In addition, the following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by region:
Region | Patient count |
East of England | 1,774 |
London | 2,527 |
Midlands | 4,324 |
North East and Yorkshire | 2,973 |
North West | 3,329 |
South East | 3,690 |
South West | 3,037 |
Data relating to chronic pulmonary obstructive disease is (COPD) not held. However, through the £10 million Respiratory Transformation Partnership, launched in March, the Government is working with NHS England, the Health Innovation Network, industry, and third sector partners to improve care across asthma and COPD pathways. This includes earlier diagnosis, better long-term management, and pathway redesign to support more consistent uptake of biologic medicines.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people with (1) severe asthma, and (2) chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, are currently prescribed biologic medicines in England, with figures for each integrated care board and NHS region.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There is currently a total of 21,654 people with severe asthma receiving a biologic for severe asthma in England. The number of people receiving a biologic is based on the number of requests received in the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, for either new initiation or continuation of asthma biologic treatment. The following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by integrated care board (ICB):
Region | Integrated care board | Patient count |
East of England | NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB | 236 |
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB | 305 | |
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB | 412 | |
NHS Mid and South Essex ICB | 285 | |
NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB | 301 | |
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB | 235 | |
London | NHS North Central London ICB | 345 |
NHS North East London ICB | 453 | |
NHS North West London ICB | 512 | |
NHS South East London ICB | 750 | |
NHS South West London ICB | 467 | |
Midlands | NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB | 593 |
NHS Black Country ICB | 488 | |
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB | 215 | |
NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB | 620 | |
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB | 247 | |
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB | 475 | |
NHS Lincolnshire ICB | 233 | |
NHS Northamptonshire ICB | 256 | |
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB | 519 | |
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB | 127 | |
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent ICB | 551 | |
North East and Yorkshire | NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB | 360 |
NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB | 1,351 | |
NHS South Yorkshire ICB | 543 | |
NHS West Yorkshire ICB | 719 | |
North West | NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB | 1,434 |
NHS Greater Manchester ICB | 1,225 | |
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB | 670 | |
South East | NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB | 969 |
NHS Frimley ICB | 172 | |
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB | 1,271 | |
NHS Kent and Medway ICB | 410 | |
NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB | 323 | |
NHS Sussex ICB | 545 | |
South West | NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB | 366 |
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB | 532 | |
NHS Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly ICB | 292 | |
NHS Devon ICB | 707 | |
NHS Dorset ICB | 381 | |
NHS Gloucestershire ICB | 356 | |
NHS Somerset ICB | 403 |
In addition, the following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by region:
Region | Patient count |
East of England | 1,774 |
London | 2,527 |
Midlands | 4,324 |
North East and Yorkshire | 2,973 |
North West | 3,329 |
South East | 3,690 |
South West | 3,037 |
Data relating to chronic pulmonary obstructive disease is (COPD) not held. However, through the £10 million Respiratory Transformation Partnership, launched in March, the Government is working with NHS England, the Health Innovation Network, industry, and third sector partners to improve care across asthma and COPD pathways. This includes earlier diagnosis, better long-term management, and pathway redesign to support more consistent uptake of biologic medicines.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase access to biologic medicines for people with asthma and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease.
Answered by Baroness Merron - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
There is currently a total of 21,654 people with severe asthma receiving a biologic for severe asthma in England. The number of people receiving a biologic is based on the number of requests received in the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, for either new initiation or continuation of asthma biologic treatment. The following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by integrated care board (ICB):
Region | Integrated care board | Patient count |
East of England | NHS Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes ICB | 236 |
NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough ICB | 305 | |
NHS Hertfordshire and West Essex ICB | 412 | |
NHS Mid and South Essex ICB | 285 | |
NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB | 301 | |
NHS Suffolk and North East Essex ICB | 235 | |
London | NHS North Central London ICB | 345 |
NHS North East London ICB | 453 | |
NHS North West London ICB | 512 | |
NHS South East London ICB | 750 | |
NHS South West London ICB | 467 | |
Midlands | NHS Birmingham and Solihull ICB | 593 |
NHS Black Country ICB | 488 | |
NHS Coventry and Warwickshire ICB | 215 | |
NHS Derby and Derbyshire ICB | 620 | |
NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB | 247 | |
NHS Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland ICB | 475 | |
NHS Lincolnshire ICB | 233 | |
NHS Northamptonshire ICB | 256 | |
NHS Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICB | 519 | |
NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICB | 127 | |
NHS Staffordshire and Stoke-On-Trent ICB | 551 | |
North East and Yorkshire | NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB | 360 |
NHS North East and North Cumbria ICB | 1,351 | |
NHS South Yorkshire ICB | 543 | |
NHS West Yorkshire ICB | 719 | |
North West | NHS Cheshire and Merseyside ICB | 1,434 |
NHS Greater Manchester ICB | 1,225 | |
NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB | 670 | |
South East | NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West ICB | 969 |
NHS Frimley ICB | 172 | |
NHS Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICB | 1,271 | |
NHS Kent and Medway ICB | 410 | |
NHS Surrey Heartlands ICB | 323 | |
NHS Sussex ICB | 545 | |
South West | NHS Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire ICB | 366 |
NHS Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire ICB | 532 | |
NHS Cornwall and The Isles of Scilly ICB | 292 | |
NHS Devon ICB | 707 | |
NHS Dorset ICB | 381 | |
NHS Gloucestershire ICB | 356 | |
NHS Somerset ICB | 403 |
In addition, the following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by region:
Region | Patient count |
East of England | 1,774 |
London | 2,527 |
Midlands | 4,324 |
North East and Yorkshire | 2,973 |
North West | 3,329 |
South East | 3,690 |
South West | 3,037 |
Data relating to chronic pulmonary obstructive disease is (COPD) not held. However, through the £10 million Respiratory Transformation Partnership, launched in March, the Government is working with NHS England, the Health Innovation Network, industry, and third sector partners to improve care across asthma and COPD pathways. This includes earlier diagnosis, better long-term management, and pathway redesign to support more consistent uptake of biologic medicines.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the approach to quantitative tightening undertaken by the European Central Bank and US Federal Reserve, which allow the relevant bonds to mature rather than engaging in the sale of such bonds.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Bank of England has operational independence from the Government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy, including quantitative easing and quantitative tightening.
HM Treasury’s response to the Treasury Select Committee’s inquiry into QT set out that different unwind paces will impact the time profile of when losses are incurred but are expected to have little effect on total cost in present value terms. Therefore, all else equal, there is no reason to believe that holding gilts for longer would avoid these losses. Instead, a higher net interest cost would be incurred from holding the portfolio for longer. QT also reduces the sensitivity of the public finances to changes in interest rates.
Since October 2022, HM Treasury has transferred £107.64bn to the Bank of England to cover losses arising from the indemnity of the Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle used to implement quantitative easing. This covers losses incurred from net interest costs and the sale and redemption of bonds as the portfolio is unwound. Since 2013, the Bank of England has transferred £123.85bn to HM Treasury, giving HM Treasury a net position of £16.21bn to date.
Data on these cash transfers are made publicly available by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its monthly Public Sector Finances publication. The data are available in the ONS data series ID MF7A in worksheet PSA9B.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what has been the cost to public funds of the Treasury's arrangement to support the Bank of England practice of quantitative tightening since 2022.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Bank of England has operational independence from the Government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy, including quantitative easing and quantitative tightening.
HM Treasury’s response to the Treasury Select Committee’s inquiry into QT set out that different unwind paces will impact the time profile of when losses are incurred but are expected to have little effect on total cost in present value terms. Therefore, all else equal, there is no reason to believe that holding gilts for longer would avoid these losses. Instead, a higher net interest cost would be incurred from holding the portfolio for longer. QT also reduces the sensitivity of the public finances to changes in interest rates.
Since October 2022, HM Treasury has transferred £107.64bn to the Bank of England to cover losses arising from the indemnity of the Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle used to implement quantitative easing. This covers losses incurred from net interest costs and the sale and redemption of bonds as the portfolio is unwound. Since 2013, the Bank of England has transferred £123.85bn to HM Treasury, giving HM Treasury a net position of £16.21bn to date.
Data on these cash transfers are made publicly available by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its monthly Public Sector Finances publication. The data are available in the ONS data series ID MF7A in worksheet PSA9B.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they possess a statistical assessment of the social cost of leaving England's water companies in private ownership and, if so, whether they will publish it.
Answered by Baroness Hayman of Ullock - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs)
This Government is committed to protecting the most vulnerable. Defra has not carried out a statistical assessment of the social cost of water companies remaining privatised.
We expect water companies to ensure support is available for customers – through bill discount schemes and financial support measures. We are working with industry to keep support under review and have consulted on reforms to WaterSure. We will publish our response this year.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Bank of England about suspending its quantitative tightening policy of selling bonds accumulated through quantitative easing, as opposed to allowing maturing debt to expire.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Bank of England has operational independence from the government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.
The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic framework, it is in line with international standards and essential for the effective delivery of monetary policy, so the government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.
Since October 2022, HM Treasury has transferred £93.32bn to the Bank of England to cover losses arising from the indemnity of the Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle used to implement quantitative easing. This covers losses incurred from net interest costs and the sale and redemption of bonds as the portfolio is unwound. Since 2013, the Bank of England has transferred £123.85bn to HM Treasury, giving HM Treasury a net position of £30.53bn to date
Data on these cash transfers between HM Treasury and the Bank of England are made publicly available by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its monthly Public Sector Finances publication. The data are available in the ONS data series ID MF7A in worksheet PSA9B.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what losses have been sustained by the Treasury since 2022 as a result of the Bank of England's decision to sell bonds as part of its policy of quantitative tightening.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Bank of England has operational independence from the government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.
The separation of fiscal and monetary policy is a key feature of the UK’s economic framework, it is in line with international standards and essential for the effective delivery of monetary policy, so the government does not comment on the conduct or effectiveness of monetary policy.
Since October 2022, HM Treasury has transferred £93.32bn to the Bank of England to cover losses arising from the indemnity of the Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle used to implement quantitative easing. This covers losses incurred from net interest costs and the sale and redemption of bonds as the portfolio is unwound. Since 2013, the Bank of England has transferred £123.85bn to HM Treasury, giving HM Treasury a net position of £30.53bn to date
Data on these cash transfers between HM Treasury and the Bank of England are made publicly available by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its monthly Public Sector Finances publication. The data are available in the ONS data series ID MF7A in worksheet PSA9B.
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government how much quantitative tightening has cost the Treasury since it began in 2022; and what they estimate the cost will be by 2029.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Bank of England has operational independence from the Government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.
In a letter to the Chancellor (12 November 2024), the Governor of the Bank of England said:
“Whilst different unwind strategies might affect the timing of cash flows between HMT and the APF, they are expected to have little effect on total cost in present value terms. For example, active sales incur upfront costs, but they also reduce lifetime net interest costs from carrying gilts on the APF’s portfolio when Bank Rate is higher than coupon payments.” [1]
Since October 2022, HM Treasury has transferred £85.9bn to the Bank of England to cover losses arising from the indemnity of the Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle used to implement quantitative easing. This covers losses incurred from net interest costs and the sale and redemption of bonds as the portfolio is unwound.
Between 2012 and 2022, the APF transferred £124bn in excess cash to HMT under the terms of the indemnity from net interest payments on purchased assets.
Data on these cash transfers between HM Treasury and the Bank of England are made publicly available by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its monthly Public Sector Finances publication. The data are available in the ONS data series ID MF7A in worksheet PSA9B.
The independent OBR provides detailed projections of the underlying losses from the APF and the impact on different fiscal metrics. As per the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook for the Spring Forecast 2025, the lifetime cost of the APF is forecast to be £133.7bn.
[1] Letter from the Governor of the Bank of England to the Chancellor of the Exchequer 12 November 2024
Asked by: Lord Kinnock (Labour - Life peer)
Question to the HM Treasury:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the Bank of England's policy to sell bonds, in the light of the US Federal Reserve and European Central Bank practice of disposing of bonds through maturation.
Answered by Lord Livermore
The Bank of England has operational independence from the Government to carry out its statutory responsibilities for monetary policy and financial stability. Monetary policy, including quantitative easing, is the responsibility of the independent Monetary Policy Committee at the Bank of England.
In a letter to the Chancellor (12 November 2024), the Governor of the Bank of England said:
“Whilst different unwind strategies might affect the timing of cash flows between HMT and the APF, they are expected to have little effect on total cost in present value terms. For example, active sales incur upfront costs, but they also reduce lifetime net interest costs from carrying gilts on the APF’s portfolio when Bank Rate is higher than coupon payments.” [1]
Since October 2022, HM Treasury has transferred £85.9bn to the Bank of England to cover losses arising from the indemnity of the Asset Purchase Facility, the vehicle used to implement quantitative easing. This covers losses incurred from net interest costs and the sale and redemption of bonds as the portfolio is unwound.
Between 2012 and 2022, the APF transferred £124bn in excess cash to HMT under the terms of the indemnity from net interest payments on purchased assets.
Data on these cash transfers between HM Treasury and the Bank of England are made publicly available by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) in its monthly Public Sector Finances publication. The data are available in the ONS data series ID MF7A in worksheet PSA9B.
The independent OBR provides detailed projections of the underlying losses from the APF and the impact on different fiscal metrics. As per the OBR’s Economic and Fiscal Outlook for the Spring Forecast 2025, the lifetime cost of the APF is forecast to be £133.7bn.
[1] Letter from the Governor of the Bank of England to the Chancellor of the Exchequer 12 November 2024