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Tuesday Volume 648 23 October 2018 No. 193 HOUSE OF COMMONS OFFICIAL REPORT PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES (HANSARD) Tuesday 23 October 2018 © Parliamentary Copyright House of Commons 2018 This publication may be reproduced under the terms of the Open Parliament licence, which is published at www.parliament.uk/site-information/copyright/. 115 23 OCTOBER 2018 116 Matt Hancock: I pay tribute to my hon. Friend for House of Commons making that case so powerfully. We work very closely with NICE, which is rightly the objective decision maker that makes recommendations for Ministers to follow Tuesday 23 October 2018 about what drugs should and should not be accessed through the NHS. He makes the case very strongly. The House met at half-past Eleven o’clock Mr Barry Sheerman (Huddersfield) (Lab/Co-op): This question is about innovative technology in the health PRAYERS service. What is the Secretary of State saying today to scientists? For example, 97% of people from the Francis Crick Institute say that our science and our bioscience [MR SPEAKER in the Chair] are in danger because of Brexit. What is he going to do about technology that is suitable for the health service? Matt Hancock: The scientists, like me, want a Brexit Oral Answers to Questions that is based on a good deal for the UK, and that is what we are seeking to deliver. In any case, we have put more money into the science budget than ever before, so no matter what the outcome of the negotiations, there HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE will be more support for science in Britain. Sir Vince Cable (Twickenham) (LD): One of the The Secretary of State was asked— innovative technologies is the new production and NHS Innovation distribution system for flu jabs for the over-65s. Is the Secretary of State aware that this technology is breaking down? In my constituency and elsewhere, there are 1. Scott Mann (North Cornwall) (Con): What steps doctors and pharmacists who simply cannot get hold of he is taking to introduce innovative technology into the stocks, which leads to potential pressures in hospitals. NHS. [907208] Will the Secretary of State investigate and take action if necessary? 14. Julian Sturdy (York Outer) (Con): What plans the Government have to improve access to innovative treatments Matt Hancock: Having a flu jab is incredibly important, and technologies in the NHS. [907222] and I hope that Members on both sides of the House have taken the opportunity to do so, including the right The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care hon. Gentleman, with whom I enjoyed working for (Matt Hancock): We are bringing a tech revolution to many years. We have a phased roll-out of the flu jab, the NHS to improve patient outcomes and reduce waste. making sure that we get the best flu jab most appropriately Today I am delighted to announce the selection of the to the people who need it most, and of course we keep first batch of products under the accelerated access that under review. collaborative, as well as funding for tech test beds to ensure that more patients get faster access to the most effective innovations. Dr Sarah Wollaston (Totnes) (Con): Digital health tools, including decision-support software, have a great Scott Mann: I am grateful to the Secretary of State potential to increase the quality,safety and cost-effectiveness for his answer. Will he expand further on the recent of care for patients, and nowhere is that more important announcement of the wave 2 test beds project and how than in reducing antimicrobial resistance. Will my right it could deliver better outcomes for my residents down hon. Friend respond to the points that we on the Health in Cornwall? and Social Care Committee make in our report about the variation in roll-out, which is wholly unacceptable, Matt Hancock: The tech test beds programme is and what measures will he take to make sure that it is about ensuring that we have units around the country clear where the responsibility for this lies? that will support local collaborations between the NHS, tech companies and academia to harness new technologies Matt Hancock: I pay tribute to the Select Committee right across the land, including—and no doubt—in for the report on AMR that was published yesterday. Of Cornwall. course, digital tools such as the one that my hon. Friend mentions are important in making sure that we make Julian Sturdy: The National Institute for Health and the best use of antibiotics and counter antimicrobial Care Excellence has so far declined to recommend the resistance as much as possible. new drug Spinraza, despite its ability to transform the lives of patients such as my young constituent Matilda Jonathan Ashworth (Leicester South) (Lab/Co-op): If Jamieson, who suffers from type 3 spinal muscular we have a “technological revolution”, in the words of atrophy. As NICE meets today to finalise the guidance, the Secretary of State, surely that depends on capital will my right hon. Friend assure me that he will work investment, but that has been cut by £1 billion. For with the manufacturers, NHS England and NICE to example, we have the lowest numbers of CT and ensure that patients such as Matilda can benefit from MRI scanners on average in the OECD, hospitals are that drug? reliant on 1,700 pieces of out-of-date equipment, and 117 Oral Answers 23 OCTOBER 2018 Oral Answers 118 the hospital repair bill now stands at £6 billion. If policy teams across many Departments to support austerity has ended, can he tell us when this maintenance participating councils to harness the potential of what backlog will be cleared? they can do and learn from others. Matt Hancock: Unlike with the failed national Mary Robinson: One in five children in Greater programme for IT, we are delivering modern technology Manchester are classified as overweight or obese, but in the national health service. That is underpinned by a Prospect Vale Primary School in Heald Green is just record commitment of £20 billion extra for the NHS one of the schools in my constituency that are getting over the next five years, accompanied by a long-term on and getting moving through the Daily Mile campaign. plan that will show how we will support the NHS and Will the Minister join me in welcoming that initiative, make sure that it is guaranteed to be there for the long which brings daily fun and fitness into schools? As term. more and more adults use wristbands to help them to get fit, what consideration is being given to the use of Jonathan Ashworth: But I asked the Secretary of technology, such as in the UK Fit Kids programme? State about capital budgets, not revenue budgets. Innovative technology can play a role in prevention, Steve Brine: Like my hon. Friend, I pay tribute to but so do public health budgets. With health inequalities Prospect Vale. I have many similar examples in Winchester. widening, infant mortality rising in the most deprived We absolutely recognise the importance of physical parts of the population, rates of smoking in pregnancy activity in tackling obesity, which is why as part of remaining higher than the EU average and child obesity chapter 2 we are promoting a new national ambition for levels getting worse, will the Secretary of State commit, all primary schools in England to adopt an active mile alongside an investment in technology, to reversing the initiative. £700 million of cuts to public health, or is the reality that his promises on prevention are entirely hollow? John Cryer (Leyton and Wanstead) (Lab): So further to the Minister’sprevious answer,why did the Government Matt Hancock: I am afraid that the hon. Gentleman abolish school sport partnerships? has it slightly muddled up, because technology does involve capital investment, but it also includes revenue Steve Brine: This Government are investing heavily in investment to ensure that the service element of any school sports through the school sport premium. For technology can continue to be delivered. Maybe he instance, the money raised from the soft drinks industry should have another look at how technology is delivered levy—the sugar tax—is going directly to supporting these days. Alongside the capital budget, we have record schools’ investment in sports, for instance through the spending on the NHS to ensure that it is there for the Daily Mile campaign, which has just been mentioned. long term. Of course public health is an important element of that, and there has been £16 billion for Alison Thewliss (Glasgow Central) (SNP): Scotland’s public health over this spending review period because diet and healthy weight delivery plan contains specific it really matters. recognition that breastfeeding can be a means of preventing obesity. Will Ministers engage with the all-party group Childhood Obesity on infant feeding and inequalities to see what more can be done in England through early breastfeeding to 2. Peter Aldous (Waveney) (Con): What steps he is prevent children from becoming obese later on in life? taking to reduce rates of childhood obesity. [907209] Steve Brine: Yes, and I am a big supporter of 8. Mary Robinson (Cheadle) (Con): What steps he is breastfeeding—I have supported it a lot in my constituency, taking to reduce rates of childhood obesity. [907216] and we engage regularly with the sector. I will be interested in any proposals that the hon. Lady has. The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Steve Brine): This June we published NHS: Value for Money and Efficiency chapter 2 of the childhood obesity plan, which built on the world-leading measures we introduced in 2016 and included bold plans to halve childhood obesity by 2030.