Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment he has made of the potential impact of Integrated Care Board decisions to reduce or withdraw gluten-free prescribing on patient health outcomes for people with coeliac disease.

The Department carried out an analysis of this issue as part of its Equalities Impact Assessment, which was published as part of the consultation on the availability of gluten-free (GF) foods on prescription in primary care, launched in March 2017. A copy of the Equality Impact Assessment following this consultation is available on the consultation page, at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/availability-of-gluten-free-foods-on-nhs-prescription

We looked at the equality impact assessment and the consultation responses, and as a result made the decision to retain GF bread and mixes on National Health Service prescription services. This will help coeliacs to obtain their basic food needs and will mitigate the risk that those on lower incomes are not able to purchase their own GF foods from retail outlets, where evidence shows that the price is often higher and availability more limited.

In England, NHS prescription charge exemptions are in place to help those with the greatest need. Eligibility depends on the patient’s age, whether they are in qualifying full-time education, whether they are pregnant or have recently given birth, whether they have a qualifying medical condition, or whether they are in receipt of certain benefits or a war pension.

We have frozen NHS prescription charges in England for the first time in three years, keeping the cost of a prescription below £10. This decision will help with the cost of living for millions of patients who regularly pay for prescriptions.

Consumer food prices depend on a range of factors, including import prices, domestic agricultural prices, domestic labour and manufacturing costs, and exchange rates. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs regularly engages with supermarkets and producers on a range of food supply matters. However, it is not for the Government to set retail food prices or to comment on day-to-day commercial decisions taken by businesses.