Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the remarks by the NHS England Clinical Director of Specialised Services that the National Health Service will not be able to afford many new drugs and treatments are consistent with (1) the statutory duty placed on NHS England to encourage innovation, and (2) the agreement with the pharmaceutical industry to hold down costs over a five-year period.

No such assessment has been made.

As a statutory organisation, it is for NHS England to ensure that its actions are in compliance with its statutory duties.

The Pharmaceutical Price Regulation Scheme (PPRS) Payments for England all go back into spending on improving patients’ health and care. The Department includes the expected PPRS Payments in setting the NHS England allocations in advance of each year.