Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to NHS England's announcement of provisional investment decisions for specialised services made on 11 July 2016, whether the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group of NHS England considered any adjustments to the baseline recommendations it made on the relative prioritisation of investment in new treatments and services for 2016-17.

Before making its final recommendations the Clinical Priorities Advisory Group (CPAG) undertakes a final check to consider whether any adjustments should be made to its initial recommendations. It may give a treatment a higher priority, if it decides the treatment significantly:

- benefits the wider health and care system;

- helps put the treatment of mental health on a par with physical health;

- will stimulate innovation and the development of new approaches to health care; or

- reduces health inequalities.

This is in line with the agreed decision making process for new treatments in specialised services.

During this year's decision making for potential investments in 2016/17, each of these factors were carefully considered, but did not result in any changes to the prioritisation recommendations made by CPAG.