Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if he will take steps to implement the strategy set out in his Department's policy paper, Saving and Improving Lives: The Future of UK Clinical Research Delivery, to ensure the attractiveness of the UK for early-stage clinical trials.

In June 2021, a phase one implementation plan was published setting out deliverables for 2021/22 and a six-month progress update was published in December 2021. The development of the phase two implementation plan is ongoing, following the outcome of the 2021 Spending Review and further information will be published later this year. We are working with the devolved administrations and, wherever possible, take a United Kingdom-wide approach.

On 23 February 2022, the National Institute for Health Research announced approximately £161 million to fund 28 clinical research facilities, expanding the delivery of early phase clinical research in National Health Service hospitals in England.