Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what comparative assessment his Department has made of the performance of NICE in (a) conducting appraisals of new medicines and (b) development of (i) clinical guidelines and (ii) quality standards in relation to the resources allocated to that body.

The Department assesses the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) performance against the targets set out in its annual business plan. NICE is currently on track to meet its performance targets for the publication of technology appraisals, clinical guidelines and quality standards. NICE’s Annual Report and Accounts sets out its activity, performance and expenditure for key areas of its business, including its appraisals of new medicines and the development of clinical guidelines and quality standards.