Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what role Clinical Reference Groups will have in the development and review of national standards for specialised services from 2027–28.

Clinical reference groups provide expert clinical advice on specialised services and support the development and review of national service specifications and clinical commissioning policies.

The Government recognises the importance of clinical advice and leadership in maintaining high-quality specialised services. Subject to final organisational arrangements, clinical expertise will continue to contribute to the development and review of national standards for specialised services so that commissioning decisions remain informed by the best available evidence and clinical expertise.