Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of potential savings to the public purse of new medicines for (a) cystic fibrosis and (b) other long-term conditions; and if he will make a statement.

The Department has made no estimate. Through its technology appraisal programme, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) provides authoritative, evidence-based guidance for the National Health Service on whether drugs and other treatments represent a clinically and cost effective use of resources. In developing its guidance, NICE takes into account all the costs and savings associated with the treatment.