Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many times he has used his powers under the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Act 2017 to impose lower prices on unbranded generic or off-patent medicines sold to the NHS; and how many companies have had lowered prices as a result of those powers.

The Department has not used its powers under the NHS Act 2006, as amended by the Health Service Medical Supplies (Costs) Act 2017, to limit prices of generic medicines. The Department continues to work with the Competition and Markets Authority on the cases they are taking forward. It has also put in place the Health Service Products (Provision and Disclosure of Information) Regulations 2018 that support its price setting powers. It is currently preparing a consultation with industry representative bodies on proposals for implementation of the price setting powers.