Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) in England provide no IVF treatment for people with fertility problems; and what plans he has to ensure better provision of such treatment by CCGs.

The Department does not collect official data on this subject matter. However, we understand from data collected by Fertility Fairness from Freedom of Information requests that there are seven clinical commissioning groups in England that do not routinely provide in vitro fertilisation treatment for their local population.

These are Croydon, Cambridge and Peterborough, Basildon and Brentwood, South Norfolk, Mid-Essex, North and East Essex, and Herts Valley.

In the light of these disappointing local decisions, the Government will give further consideration to what might be agreed with NHS England to support National Health Service fertility services being available on a more equitable basis across England for all those with fertility problems.