Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help increase patient access to clinical trials; and what recent discussions he has had with the devolved Administrations on best practice in this area.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department works together with other Government departments and devolved administrations to support research and access to clinical trials across the United Kingdom. Our long-term vision, set out in 'Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery' was developed in collaboration with the devolved administrations and is in line with similar initiatives in England and the devolved administrations.
To gain a better understanding of how health-related data flows in the UK, Professor Cathie Sudlow has been commissioned to conduct a review.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, runs the Be Part of Research service in collaboration with all the devolved administrations. Be Part of Research makes it easier for the public to find and take part in health and care research. The NIHR is also striving to improve diversity in research by analysing the demographics of participants in randomized controlled trials. The findings show that the participants' diversity, age, and gender are representative of the general population.
The NIHR is dedicated to enhancing and investing in the talent pool of researchers in clinical trials. It has implemented measures to address under-representation and improve diversity. These measures include encouraging applications from diverse groups through positive action statements and expanding nomination processes for research fellowships to address under-representation based on gender and ethnicity.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether her Department has taken steps to facilitate the sharing of data with (a) other Government departments, (b) the Scottish Government and (c) businesses in the life sciences sector to help develop Scotland’s life science capability and clinical trials capacity.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department works together with other Government departments and devolved administrations to support research and access to clinical trials across the United Kingdom. Our long-term vision, set out in 'Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery' was developed in collaboration with the devolved administrations and is in line with similar initiatives in England and the devolved administrations.
To gain a better understanding of how health-related data flows in the UK, Professor Cathie Sudlow has been commissioned to conduct a review.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, runs the Be Part of Research service in collaboration with all the devolved administrations. Be Part of Research makes it easier for the public to find and take part in health and care research. The NIHR is also striving to improve diversity in research by analysing the demographics of participants in randomized controlled trials. The findings show that the participants' diversity, age, and gender are representative of the general population.
The NIHR is dedicated to enhancing and investing in the talent pool of researchers in clinical trials. It has implemented measures to address under-representation and improve diversity. These measures include encouraging applications from diverse groups through positive action statements and expanding nomination processes for research fellowships to address under-representation based on gender and ethnicity.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking with the Scottish Government to facilitate data sharing and improve access to clinical trials in Scotland.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department works together with other Government departments and devolved administrations to support research and access to clinical trials across the United Kingdom. Our long-term vision, set out in 'Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery' was developed in collaboration with the devolved administrations and is in line with similar initiatives in England and the devolved administrations.
To gain a better understanding of how health-related data flows in the UK, Professor Cathie Sudlow has been commissioned to conduct a review.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, runs the Be Part of Research service in collaboration with all the devolved administrations. Be Part of Research makes it easier for the public to find and take part in health and care research. The NIHR is also striving to improve diversity in research by analysing the demographics of participants in randomized controlled trials. The findings show that the participants' diversity, age, and gender are representative of the general population.
The NIHR is dedicated to enhancing and investing in the talent pool of researchers in clinical trials. It has implemented measures to address under-representation and improve diversity. These measures include encouraging applications from diverse groups through positive action statements and expanding nomination processes for research fellowships to address under-representation based on gender and ethnicity.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department will take to increase the diversity of (a) participants and (b) researchers in clinical trials in the UK.
Answered by Will Quince
The Department works together with other Government departments and devolved administrations to support research and access to clinical trials across the United Kingdom. Our long-term vision, set out in 'Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery' was developed in collaboration with the devolved administrations and is in line with similar initiatives in England and the devolved administrations.
To gain a better understanding of how health-related data flows in the UK, Professor Cathie Sudlow has been commissioned to conduct a review.
The National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), funded by the Department of Health and Social Care, runs the Be Part of Research service in collaboration with all the devolved administrations. Be Part of Research makes it easier for the public to find and take part in health and care research. The NIHR is also striving to improve diversity in research by analysing the demographics of participants in randomized controlled trials. The findings show that the participants' diversity, age, and gender are representative of the general population.
The NIHR is dedicated to enhancing and investing in the talent pool of researchers in clinical trials. It has implemented measures to address under-representation and improve diversity. These measures include encouraging applications from diverse groups through positive action statements and expanding nomination processes for research fellowships to address under-representation based on gender and ethnicity.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether her Department plans to collaborate with businesses in the Scottish life sciences industry to meet the Government’s ambition of being a science superpower by 2030.
Answered by George Freeman
The Department collaborates closely with companies from across the UK, including Scottish industry, to deliver the Life Sciences Vision and ensure we deliver on our science superpower ambitions. Officials in the Office for Life Sciences meet with the Devolved Administrations monthly, and they are officially represented on the quarterly Life Sciences Delivery Board to ensure we are delivering for the entirety of the UK. Representatives from Scottish Industry also attended the recent ‘Treasury Connect’ series, where Ministers and officials met directly with industry to discuss their ambition and concerns. This directly informed the £650 million package announced on 26 May.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department is taking to support the life sciences sector in Scotland.
Answered by George Freeman
On 26 May we announced a raft of measures to support the life sciences sector across the UK. This includes a new Biomanufacturing Fund, open to companies across the UK, and measures to improve the underlying business environment such as through pro-innovation review of technologies (life sciences), which will give industry and investors the certainty they need to drive innovation, investment and growth. We will ensure the sector has the finance it needs to grow through our Life Sciences Investment Envoy, Dan Mahony, and the Long-term Investment For Technology and Science (LIFTS) initiative, bolstering investment in companies across the UK.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:
To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what steps her Department has taken to help increase the number of life sciences companies in Scotland.
Answered by George Freeman
Through the Life Sciences Vision, we are committed to growing the life sciences sector across the country. We have delivered a range of programmes open to companies across the UK, including the Medicines and Diagnostics Manufacturing Transformation Fund (MDMTF) in 2021, the Life Sciences Innovative Manufacturing Fund (LSIMF) in 2022, and the Biomanufacturing Fund announced on 26 May this year. We appointed a Life Sciences Investment Envoy, Dan Mahony, to boost investment in companies looking to grow and are working with the Treasury on the Long-term Investment For Technology and Science (LIFTS) initiative to crowd-in investment and grow the sector.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department is taking steps to help encourage vaccine manufacturers to manufacture their vaccines in the UK; and if he will make an assessment of the potential impact of higher levels of UK-based vaccine production on Scotland.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Over £405 million has been invested through the Vaccine Taskforce to secure and scale up the United Kingdom’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities to ensure a robust response to COVID-19 and potential future health emergencies.
To further improve the UK's resilience to future health emergencies, we have recently announced the £38 million Biomanufacturing Fund to incentivise investment in the biomanufacturing supply chain for vaccines and therapeutics. Together this funding will improve the UK’s resilience to future health emergencies.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
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 Scottish Government on a coordinated approach to pandemic preparedness.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
Whilst no specific discussions have taken place between the Secretary of State and Scottish Government on pandemic preparedness, there is well-established UK-wide working on health security, public health protection and pandemic preparedness across all four United Kingdom nations.
The UK’s approach to pandemic preparedness reflects the fact that health policy is devolved and that emergency response and recovery is founded on a principle of subsidiarity. However, various mechanisms are in place to ensure effective coordination across all four UK nations, including devolved Government representation on the cross-Government Pandemic Diseases Capabilities Board (PDCB). PDCB ensures that critical capabilities for pandemic preparedness and response are maintained and developed across all sectors.
In addition, the approach to taken to clinical countermeasures, which is a key plank of our preparedness and response capability for a future pandemic, is conducted on a UK-wide basis. Representatives from the Devolved Governments and their agencies sit on the Clinical Countermeasures Board to ensure alignment in our approach to the procurement and stockpiling of countermeasures such as vaccines, medicines, and consumables.
More generally, the Common Framework for Public Health Protection and Health Security was agreed by the Four Nations in October 2021 to strengthen strategic collaboration on health security, including communicable diseases. Delivery of the work programme under the Common Framework is overseen by the UK Health Protection Committee, which was established by legislation and is, in turn, supported by a Four Nations Health Protection Oversight Group.
The UK Chief Medical Officer (CMO) group acts as an additional senior level body to ensure alignment and coordination in our approach to health security, including pandemic preparedness, and is accountable to all four UK CMOs.
Asked by: Ian Murray (Labour - Edinburgh South)
Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:
To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to onshore vaccine manufacturing capability; and what assessment his Department has made of the UK’s preparedness for Disease X.
Answered by Maria Caulfield - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade) (Minister for Women)
The United Kingdom’s Government is taking steps across the health family to ensure the UK is prepared for any future pandemic. We have established the Centre for Pandemic Preparedness within UK Health Security Agency which is working to ensure the UK’s future pandemic response is faster, more effective and more efficient to reduce the negative impacts of health threats to the UK.
On vaccines, over £405 million has been invested through the Vaccine Taskforce to secure and scale up the UK’s vaccine manufacturing capabilities to ensure a robust response to COVID-19 and potential future health emergencies.
The UK Government has also announced the £38 million Biomanufacturing Fund to incentivise investment in the biomanufacturing supply chain for vaccines and therapeutics and the Government and Moderna have entered into a long-term strategic partnership in December 2022. Together this funding will improve the UK’s resilience to future health emergencies.