Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the MS Society’s report entitled A Different Path: Rethinking MS hospital care, published in September 2025, what steps he is taking to improve hospital care for people with multiple sclerosis.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services, including hospital care, for their local population, including for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Government expects ICBs to assess the demand for service provision in designing their local services.
Whilst there hasn’t been a specific discussion with NHS England regarding the MS Optimum Clinical Pathway, there are initiatives to support better care for patients with neurological conditions, such as MS, across England. These include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, which aims to improve MS care by supporting the NHS to address variations in care and promoting best practices.
The Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, published by NHS England’s RightCare Programme, supports healthcare systems in improving the care of individuals living with progressive neurological conditions, including MS. It aims to enhance local services and reduce hospital admissions by focusing on preventative care and optimising the delivery of services.
NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP) is a multi-year programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. The NTP has collaborated with clinicians and patient groups to create specific pathways for MS, aiming to improve the quality and coordination of care.
NHS England has also recently updated its Specialised Neurology Services (Adults) Service Specification, which includes services for people with MS. Service specifications define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care. The refreshed service specification is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/
The three shifts outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan will support people with long-term conditions, including those with MS, to better manage their condition and access services closer to home. For example, it will empower them to access their medical history and allow them to book and manage their appointments and medication.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
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 NHS England on adopting the MS Optimum Clinical Pathway for people with multiple sclerosis.
Answered by Ashley Dalton - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)
Integrated care boards (ICBs) are responsible for commissioning services, including hospital care, for their local population, including for people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The Government expects ICBs to assess the demand for service provision in designing their local services.
Whilst there hasn’t been a specific discussion with NHS England regarding the MS Optimum Clinical Pathway, there are initiatives to support better care for patients with neurological conditions, such as MS, across England. These include the Getting It Right First Time Programme for Neurology, which aims to improve MS care by supporting the NHS to address variations in care and promoting best practices.
The Progressive Neurological Conditions Toolkit, published by NHS England’s RightCare Programme, supports healthcare systems in improving the care of individuals living with progressive neurological conditions, including MS. It aims to enhance local services and reduce hospital admissions by focusing on preventative care and optimising the delivery of services.
NHS England’s Neurology Transformation Programme (NTP) is a multi-year programme to develop a new model of integrated care for neurology services. The NTP has collaborated with clinicians and patient groups to create specific pathways for MS, aiming to improve the quality and coordination of care.
NHS England has also recently updated its Specialised Neurology Services (Adults) Service Specification, which includes services for people with MS. Service specifications define the standards of care expected from organisations funded by NHS England to provide specialised care. The refreshed service specification is available at the following link:
https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/specialised-neurology-services-adults/
The three shifts outlined in the 10-Year Health Plan will support people with long-term conditions, including those with MS, to better manage their condition and access services closer to home. For example, it will empower them to access their medical history and allow them to book and manage their appointments and medication.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of the removal of RQF Level 3-5 dental professionals from the list of Skilled Worker Visa eligible sponsored roles on patient access to dental care.
Answered by Stephen Kinnock - Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care)
Dentists, dental surgeons and other dental practitioners, including orthodontists, meet the raised skills threshold of Regulation Qualification Framework (RQF) level 6 or above and continue to remain eligible for the Skilled Worker visa.
Those individuals already in the Skilled Worker route in dental professional roles at RQF 3 to 5, who have a certificate of sponsorship issued before 22 July 2025, can continue to work and extend their visas as long as they meet occupation salary thresholds. However, as these roles do not meet the new skills threshold of RQF level 6 or above, new visa applicants after 22 July are not eligible.
The numbers recruited from overseas into the dental professions are relatively low when compared to other healthcare professions such as nurses or doctors. In the second quarter of 2025, 29 dental nurses and 38 medical and dental technicians (including, though not exclusively, dental therapists and hygienists) were granted Health and Care Worker or Skilled Worker visas.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
What recent assessment he has made of the effectiveness of his Department’s response to the covid-19 outbreak.
Answered by Matt Hancock
The Government has assessed and managed the impact of COVID-19, taking the necessary action to suppress the virus, prevent the National Health Service from becoming overwhelmed and save lives. Levels of infection are showing clear signs of coming down and over 17 million people – one in three – have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has to extend the professional registration of health care staff on the Health and Care Professions Council register beyond the groups currently listed.
Answered by Helen Whately - Shadow Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
The Government does not have any plans to extend the list of professions that are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council at this time.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will ask the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence to review the evidence behind its initial decision to reject siponimod for routine use to treat active secondary multiple sclerosis.
Answered by Jo Churchill
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) follows established methods and processes when developing its technology appraisals guidance and only publishes final guidance on the use of a drug after careful consideration of the evidence and consultation with stakeholders.
The appraisal consultation document (ACD) on siponimod for treating secondary progressive multiple sclerosis is draft guidance and is currently subject to public consultation, allowing stakeholders and individuals to comment on the draft guidance so that their views can be taken into account. The ACD is not NICE's final guidance on a technology and the recommendations may change after consultation.
The consultation has been running from 25 June to 5pm on 23 July 2020. The consultation can be found at the following link:
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/indevelopment/gid-ta10436/consultation/html-content-2
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
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 the scientific community on the regulatory changes needed to ensure that the UK will have continued alignment with EU regulations on clinical trials after the UK leaves the EU.
Answered by Jackie Doyle-Price
The Government has made clear that a key priority through the negotiations will be to ensure that the United Kingdom remains one of the best places in the world for science and innovation, including on clinical trials. We are in regular contact with the scientific community through the Ministerial and industry co-chaired UK-European Union Life Sciences Steering Group. Outside of this group we have consistent contact with industry and research charities on clinical trials.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether he has made an assessment of the potential effect of not aligning with the forthcoming EU clinical trials regulation on patient access to clinical trials.
Answered by Steve Brine
My Rt. hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear that a key priority through the negotiations will be to ensure that the United Kingdom remains one of the best places in the world for science and innovation. As part of exit negotiations the Government will discuss with the European Union and Member States how best to continue cooperation in the field of clinical trials. Regardless of the outcome of those negotiations the UK is committed to offering a competitive service for clinical trial assessment.
In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, Health Research Authority, ethics services, National Institute for Health Research and National Health Service have been working towards implementation of the new European Clinical Trials Regulation (CTR) since it was agreed in 2014. The application date of the CTR across the EU will be set by the European Commission. The current regulatory approval legislation will stay in place until such time as any changes are needed so there will be no interruption in UK clinical trials approval.
Asked by: Chris Law (Scottish National Party - Dundee Central)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 10 July 2015 to Question 2952, if he will make it his policy to secure accredited Living Wage Employer status for his Department from the Living Wage Foundation.
Answered by Jane Ellison
The Department’s London and National pay-scales exceed the London Living Wage and the UK Living Wage, respectively. The Department reviews this position on an annual basis in line with the Living Wage levels set by the Living Wage Foundation every November.