Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by Baroness Merron on 9 October (HL Deb col 1995), whether the working group considering apheresis capacity intends to consult stakeholders, including (1) the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, and (2) the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network, prior to publishing its report.

The apheresis working group was established to address issues around apheresis capacity and improve the resilience of stem cell supply for the United Kingdom. The working group is currently in the evidence gathering phase ahead of publishing its report in spring 2025.

The group is comprised of stakeholders from apheresis users, commissioning bodies, patient representatives, and subject matter experts. Each member has a responsibility for keeping wider stakeholders informed. The Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult is already represented within the working group. The catapult is responsible for coordination of the Advanced Therapy Treatment Centre network. Through submissions from, and engagement with, the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult, a report is in preparation on apheresis capacity across users to be discussed at the next working group meeting.