Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans her Department has for the future role, remit and reporting structure of the National Specialty Lead for Rheumatology following the abolition of NHS England and the integration of its functions into her Department; and what steps she is taking to ensure that dedicated national clinical leadership is retained to guide policy, clinical standards and specialist care networks for the people with rare autoimmune rheumatic diseases.

On the future of clinical reference groups, I refer the Rt. Hon. Member to the answer provided on 24 August in response to Question HL1992. Details regarding specific groups, or individuals in national specialty or clinical lead roles, will be set out in due course.