Written questions by Glover.

What assessment the department has made of whether funding for epilepsy research is proportionate to the prevalence of epilepsy.

Awaiting answer.

Whether the Department plans to increase funding opportunities for epilepsy research.

Awaiting answer.

What steps are being taken to shift epilepsy care from a reactive approach to a proactive preventative model, such as increased early identification of symptoms.

Awaiting answer.

What steps his Department are taking to help ensure that epilepsy patients and their families have access to readily-available information of SUDEP risk and prevention.

Awaiting answer.

What steps are being taken to ensure that key risk factors for epilepsy patients are proactively assessed, and what is being done to increase awareness of these risk factors.

Awaiting answer.

What steps he is taking to improve timely diagnosis for people living with Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.

Awaiting answer.

What steps the department is taking to reduce regional disparities in dementia diagnosis rates.

To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.To reduce variation in diagnosis rates, the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ Dementia Intelligence Network has developed a tool for local systems, which includes an assessment of population characteristics such as rurality and socio-economic deprivation. This enables systems to investigate local variation in diagnosis and take informed action to enhance their diagnosis rates. The tool has been released and is available via the NHS Futures Collaboration platform.We will deliver the first ever Modern Service framework for Frailty and Dementia to deliver rapid and significant improvements in quality of care and productivity. This will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia and will set national standards for dementia care and redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

What steps the department is taking to ensure early diagnosis for individuals with dementia.

To support recovery of the dementia diagnosis rates and implementation of the Dementia Care Pathway, we have developed a memory service dashboard for management information purposes. The aim is to support commissioners and providers with appropriate data and enable targeted support where needed.We will deliver the first ever Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework to deliver rapid and significant improvements in the quality of care and productivity. This will be informed by phase one of the independent commission into adult social care, which is expected this year. The Frailty and Dementia Modern Service Framework will seek to reduce unwarranted variation and narrow inequality for those living with dementia, it will set national standards for dementia care, and will redirect National Health Service priorities to provide the best possible care and support.

With reference to the recent update to NICE guideline on ovarian cancer, what consideration he has given to implementing dual testing using CA125 and ultrasound at the same time for women of all ages.

Awaiting answer.

What the average study set-up time was for (a) all dementia clinical studies, (b) commercial dementia studies and (c) non-commercial dementia studies supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research in the most recent reporting year.

The UK Clinical Research Delivery key performance indicators report brings together data to monitor the delivery of globally competitive clinical research across the United Kingdom. This report is available at the following link:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-clinical-research-delivery-key-performance-indicators-data-to-march-2026/uk-clinical-research-delivery-key-performance-indicators-data-to-march-2026The report includes several indicators relating to study set-up. Indicator 3 measures the time it takes to open studies after they have received approval from the Health Research Authority, or via an equivalent process used by the devolved administrations. Indicator 4 measures the time it takes studies to recruit their first participant after they have opened to recruitment. The information requested is shown in the following tables, as an unpublished subset of the statistics that were published on 15 April 2026. The information is taken from studies held on the NIHR Research Delivery Network’s Central Portfolio Management System. The following table shows the average number of days taken for dementia studies to open to recruitment from Health Research Authority approval letter or equivalent process used by the devolved administrations: Number of dementia studies open to recruitmentMedian number of days takenAll studies4858Commercial1265Non-Commercial3656 Studies are included where approval was granted between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. In addition, the following table shows the average number of days taken for dementia studies to recruit their first participant from opening to recruitment: Number of dementia studies with first participant recruitedMedian number of days takenAll studies3335Commercial839Non-Commercial2535 Studies are included where the opening date was between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025. The Department is committed to turbocharging clinical research and delivering better patient care, to make the UK a world-leading destination for clinical research. We are working to fast-track clinical trials to drive global investment into life sciences, improve health outcomes, and accelerate the development of medicines and therapies of the future, including treatments for dementia.

What steps he is taking to help improve access to trials for new dementia treatments in Didcot and Wantage constituency.

The Department is committed to ensuring that all patients, including those with dementia, have access to cutting-edge clinical trials and innovative, lifesaving treatments.The Department funds research and research infrastructure through the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) which supports National Health Service patients, the public, and NHS organisations across England to participate in high-quality research, including clinical trials into dementia.The Department, via the NIHR, is also investing nearly £50 million into the Dementia Trials Network, a coordinated network of trial sites across the United Kingdom, which will offer people with dementia the opportunity to take part in early phase clinical trials irrespective of where they live. This is complemented by the £20 million Dementia Trials Accelerator, designed to position the United Kingdom as the destination of choice for late phase clinical trials in dementia and neurodegenerative diseases.In partnership with Alzheimer’s Society, Alzheimer’s Research UK, and Alzheimer Scotland, the NIHR delivers Join Dementia Research, an online platform which enables the involvement of people with and without a dementia diagnosis, as well as carers, to take part in a range of important research, including studies evaluating potential treatments for dementia.The NIHR also provides an online service called 'Be Part of Research', which promotes participation in health and social care research by allowing users to search for relevant studies, including those with dementia, and register their interest.The NIHR South Central Regional Research Delivery Network supports the delivery of dementia studies and increased patient participation and timely access to clinical trials for NHS organisations serving the Didcot and Wantage constituency, this is complemented by NIHR Biomedical Research Centres, including the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre in developing cognitive, imaging and blood-based biomarkers that support earlier detection.

If he will make an assessment of whether individual ICBs are deviating from NICE guidance.

Integrated care boards are legally required to make funding available for medicines recommended in a National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) technology appraisal or highly specialised technology evaluation, normally within three months of the publication of final guidance. The effect of this legal obligation is that all NICE-approved treatments must be included in local formularies for use in line with NICE’s recommendations and with no additional funding or formulary restrictions.As part of commitments made in the 2024 voluntary scheme for branded medicines pricing and access, NHS England is developing a local formulary national minimum dataset to increase visibility of local variation in the implementation of NICE guidance, identify where variation in local formularies may be creating barriers to access, and to provide assurance to NHS England when a NICE recommended treatment has been listed on a local formulary.

Whether he has held discussions with Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board on its policy on access to fertility services.

No discussions have been held with the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (ICB) about its provision of National Health Service-funded in vitro fertilisation treatment.Decisions about the provision of health services in England are made by ICBs and are based on the clinical needs of their local population. They are expected to commission fertility services in line with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines, ensuring equal access to fertility treatment across England.Updated NICE fertility guidelines are expected in spring. The Department will continue to support NHS England as they work closely with ICBs to ensure the guidance is fully considered in local commissioning decisions.

What assessment he has made of the potential implications for his policies of the concerns raised by the Dental Defence Union in their British Dental Journal article, published on 16 May 2025 in relation to the delays in fitness to practise proceedings.

The Government is committed to modernising the regulatory frameworks for all healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom.In the first instance, we plan to consult on secondary legislation to modernise the General Medical Council’s regulatory framework in late 2025, and to deliver reformed legislation for the Health and Care Professions Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council within the current Parliamentary period.The Department will continue to work with all regulators, the devolved administrations, and other key partners as we develop more consistent, efficient, and effective regulatory frameworks.

What assessment he has made of the potential merits of issuing a Section 60 Order to update fitness to practise proceedings for dental professionals.

The Government is committed to modernising the regulatory frameworks for all healthcare professionals in the United Kingdom.In the first instance, we plan to consult on secondary legislation to modernise the General Medical Council’s regulatory framework in late 2025, and to deliver reformed legislation for the Health and Care Professions Council and the Nursing and Midwifery Council within the current Parliamentary period.The Department will continue to work with all regulators, the devolved administrations, and other key partners as we develop more consistent, efficient, and effective regulatory frameworks.

Whether NHS dental contract holders will be eligible for treatment at the Staff Treatment Hubs announced in the 10 Year Health Plan.

Following the publication of the 10-Year Health Plan, work is underway to develop implementation and operational plans for the Staff Treatments Hubs. This will determine factors such as location, budgets, timeframes and capacity.The commitment to Staff Treatment hubs set out in the 10-Year Health Plan draws on various evidence sources including the NHS England internal Staff Treatment Access Review. This demonstrated the clear productivity and economic argument for investing in the health of our NHS staff, particularly focusing on mental health and musculoskeletal treatment services as the main drivers of sickness absence in the NHS, as well as wider sectors.

What steps he is taking to reduce concerns amongst NHS dental professionals about the cost of clinical negligence claims.

The rising costs of clinical negligence claims against the National Health Service in England are of great concern to the Government. The causes of the overall cost rise are complex and there is no single fix. In the 10 Year Health Plan we announced David Lock KC will be providing expert policy advice on the rising legal costs of clinical negligence claims, ahead of a review by the Department in the autumn. This review is focussed on clinical negligence claims in the NHS generally, not specifically on dentistry.In terms of NHS dentistry reform, we recently held a public consultation on a package of changes, not only to improve access and quality, but also to make NHS dentistry a more professionally fulfilling and rewarding place in which to work. The consultation closed on 19 August, and the Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation.

What steps he is taking to reduce workplace pressures on NHS dentists.

We recently held a public consultation on a package of changes to improve access to, and the quality of NHS dentistry, which will deliver better care for the diverse oral health needs of people across England. The consultation closed on 19 August. The Government is considering the outcomes of the consultation and will publish a response in due course.If implemented, these reforms will cement our commitment to delivering 700,000 more urgent dental care appointments every year, better supporting patients with complex treatment needs and incentivising the delivery of more preventative care. The interim reform changes will seek to make NHS dentistry a more attractive workplace.We will also publish a 10 Year Workforce Plan and will ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places, with the right skills to deliver the best care for patients, when they need it.

On what criteria will he base the review of the Carr-Hill formula.

We recognise the importance of ensuring that funding for core services is distributed equitably between practices across the country.The review of the Carr-Hill formula will draw on a range of evidence and advice from experts, with a focus on how health need is reflected in funding. Further detail on the review will be confirmed in due course.

What assessment his Department has made of the potential impact of changes to the (a) structure and (b) responsibilities of Integrated Care Boards on the (i) commissioning and (ii) delivery of multiple sclerosis services.

NHS England has asked the integrated care boards (ICBs) to act primarily as strategic commissioners of health and care services and to reduce the duplication of responsibilities within their structure, with the expectation of achieving a reduction in their running cost allowance. NHS England has shared a draft of The Model ICB Blueprint to help ICBs shape future plans. The blueprint confirms their critical role as strategic commissioners, with their core functions centred in population health management, including understanding local context, developing a long-term strategy, allocating resources, and evaluating impact. The Government is focused on improving health, and as part of that has produced a 10-Year Health Plan in order to reform the health system. The Government will work with the new transformation team at the top of NHS England, led by Sir Jim Mackey, to ensure that the expected hundreds of millions of pounds of savings made will be reinvested into frontline services and to unlock the benefit of working at scale to deliver better care for patients, including those with multiple sclerosis.