Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the announcement made by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing on 7 October 2014, if he will introduce a scheme similar to the New Medicines Fund in England.

The Government has no plans to do so.

In August 2014, we announced an additional £160 million for the Cancer Drugs Fund. This increases the budget of the Cancer Drugs Fund from £200 million to £280 million in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

The Government is implementing all of the commitments in the 2014 Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) on improving access to innovative medicines commensurate with the outcomes they offer patients. In addition, NHS England and the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry are pressing ahead with plans to maximise the benefits of the PPRS by improving access to and optimising the use of medicines to improve patient outcomes.