Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps he is taking to ensure the Warm Homes Plan (a) reduces bills, (b) improves health outcomes and (c) reduces levels of fuel poverty.

Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

The Warm Homes Plan will help cut household bills for families and slash fuel poverty. The Government has committed £13.2 billion to upgrade millions of homes across the country.

The Government is working to ensure that homes are fit for the future and the Department has been carrying out research to respond to the relevant climate change adaptation risks identified by the third Climate Change Risk Assessment, including to health and wellbeing. This work is informing the development of the Warm Homes Plan.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans his Department has to use community pharmacies to support people with (a) asthma and (b) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease to better manage their condition.

Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

The New Medicine Service is an advanced service offered by community pharmacies, providing patients with advice to address any possible side effects, issues, or questions that patients who are prescribed a new medicine may have. The service focuses on treatments for long-term conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Community pharmacies are further funded to support patients with asthma through the Pharmacy Quality Scheme, providing additional support to patients aged between five and 15 years old using a spacer, and patients using short-acting bronchodilators.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NICE on considering the potential impact of improved carer wellbeing on the economy in its assessments of the effectiveness of treatments for rare diseases.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In making its recommendations on new medicines, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) takes into account all health-related costs and benefits, including health benefits to carers. It does not, however, take into account wider societal or economic considerations. Taking a wider perspective could have unintended consequences such as reducing access to treatments for patients who are disproportionately older, economically inactive, or have greater care needs. NICE’s methods are set out in its published health technology evaluations manual, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg36

When presenting health effects for carers, evidence should show when the condition is associated with a substantial effect on a carer’s health-related quality of life, and how the technology affects carers. This applies for all therapies, including therapies for rare diseases. NICE appraisals specifically consider health-related quality of life, for both patients and carers, rather than quality of life as a whole.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what discussions he has had with NICE on feedback from stakeholders on how the impacts on carers are considered in appraisals for rare and ultra-rare conditions.

Answered by Karin Smyth - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)

In making its recommendations on new medicines, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) takes into account all health-related costs and benefits, including health benefits to carers. It does not, however, take into account wider societal or economic considerations. Taking a wider perspective could have unintended consequences such as reducing access to treatments for patients who are disproportionately older, economically inactive, or have greater care needs. NICE’s methods are set out in its published health technology evaluations manual, which is available at the following link:

https://www.nice.org.uk/process/pmg36

When presenting health effects for carers, evidence should show when the condition is associated with a substantial effect on a carer’s health-related quality of life, and how the technology affects carers. This applies for all therapies, including therapies for rare diseases. NICE appraisals specifically consider health-related quality of life, for both patients and carers, rather than quality of life as a whole.

Found: meeting Members present: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Johanna Baxter; Steve Darling; Damien Egan; Amanda Hack

Found: Debbie Abrahams (Chair); Johanna Baxter; Mr Peter Bedford; Steve Darling; Damien Egan; Gill German; Amanda Hack

Found: Julia Buckley Pippa Heylings Afzal Khan Luke Myer James Naish Luke Murphy Dan Aldridge Amanda Hack

Found: Julia Buckley Pippa Heylings Afzal Khan Luke Myer James Naish Luke Murphy Dan Aldridge Amanda Hack

Found: Tom Rutland REPORT STAGE Tuesday 17 June 2025 Jo Platt Rosie Wrighting Chris Webb Gill German Amanda Hack

Found: Shaun Davies Amanda Martin Steve Yemm Lloyd Hatton Sarah Gibson Joe Powell Rosie Wrighting Amanda Hack

Found: Shaun Davies Amanda Martin Steve Yemm Lloyd Hatton Sarah Gibson Joe Powell Rosie Wrighting Amanda Hack

Found: Shaun Davies Amanda Martin Steve Yemm Lloyd Hatton Sarah Gibson Joe Powell Rosie Wrighting Amanda Hack

Found: Shaun Davies Amanda Martin Steve Yemm Lloyd Hatton Sarah Gibson Joe Powell Rosie Wrighting Amanda Hack