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 ensure that the devolved regions adequate resources to support health services in tackling (a) Strep A and (b) scarlet fever.

As health is a devolved matter, the devolved administrations are responsible for responding appropriately to the needs of the respective populations, including addressing outbreaks of scarlet fever and Group A streptococcus (GAS).

The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) collaborates with the devolved administrations and the relevant public health agencies. Representatives from the devolved administrations attend the UKHSA’s incident management team meetings, including for the GAS incident. Information on serious cross‑border threats to health, new and emerging threats, surveillance and response coordination is also shared.