NHS England has not entered into any commercial agreements involving indication-specific pricing for kidney conditions, or for rare kidney conditions, between June 2021 and July 2026. However, during this period, NHS England has entered into three commercial agreements involving indication-specific pricing for kidney cancer indications, including renal cell carcinoma indications.

NHS England regularly engages with patient groups, including the Charity Medicines Access Coalition, Genetic Alliance UK, and the Neurological Alliance, whose members represent people living with a wide range of rare conditions. More recent engagement has included patient groups representing people with conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, and motor neurone disease, where National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisals have been undertaken or are ongoing.

As part of the upcoming consultation on updates to the NHS Commercial Framework for New Medicines, NHS England will seek views from a broad range of patient organisations, including those representing people with rare diseases.

NHS England has not entered into any commercial agreements involving indication-specific pricing for kidney conditions, or for rare kidney conditions, between June 2021 and July 2026. However, during this period, NHS England has entered into three commercial agreements involving indication-specific pricing for kidney cancer indications, including renal cell carcinoma indications.

NHS England regularly engages with patient groups, including the Charity Medicines Access Coalition, Genetic Alliance UK, and the Neurological Alliance, whose members represent people living with a wide range of rare conditions. More recent engagement has included patient groups representing people with conditions such as spinal muscular atrophy, muscular dystrophy, and motor neurone disease, where National Institute for Health and Care Excellence technology appraisals have been undertaken or are ongoing.

As part of the upcoming consultation on updates to the NHS Commercial Framework for New Medicines, NHS England will seek views from a broad range of patient organisations, including those representing people with rare diseases.

There is currently a total of 21,654 people with severe asthma receiving a biologic for severe asthma in England. The number of people receiving a biologic is based on the number of requests received in the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, for either new initiation or continuation of asthma biologic treatment. The following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by integrated care board (ICB):

In addition, the following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by region:

Data relating to chronic pulmonary obstructive disease is (COPD) not held. However, through the £10 million Respiratory Transformation Partnership, launched in March, the Government is working with NHS England, the Health Innovation Network, industry, and third sector partners to improve care across asthma and COPD pathways. This includes earlier diagnosis, better long-term management, and pathway redesign to support more consistent uptake of biologic medicines.

There is currently a total of 21,654 people with severe asthma receiving a biologic for severe asthma in England. The number of people receiving a biologic is based on the number of requests received in the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, for either new initiation or continuation of asthma biologic treatment. The following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by integrated care board (ICB):

In addition, the following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by region:

Data relating to chronic pulmonary obstructive disease is (COPD) not held. However, through the £10 million Respiratory Transformation Partnership, launched in March, the Government is working with NHS England, the Health Innovation Network, industry, and third sector partners to improve care across asthma and COPD pathways. This includes earlier diagnosis, better long-term management, and pathway redesign to support more consistent uptake of biologic medicines.

There is currently a total of 21,654 people with severe asthma receiving a biologic for severe asthma in England. The number of people receiving a biologic is based on the number of requests received in the last 12 months, from June 2025 to May 2026, for either new initiation or continuation of asthma biologic treatment. The following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by integrated care board (ICB):

In addition, the following table shows a breakdown of the asthma figures by region:

Data relating to chronic pulmonary obstructive disease is (COPD) not held. However, through the £10 million Respiratory Transformation Partnership, launched in March, the Government is working with NHS England, the Health Innovation Network, industry, and third sector partners to improve care across asthma and COPD pathways. This includes earlier diagnosis, better long-term management, and pathway redesign to support more consistent uptake of biologic medicines.

The Government takes road safety seriously and are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is unacceptable and there are tough penalties and rigorous enforcement in place.

The Government’s Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026, recognises drug driving as a major road-safety risk and proposes a combination of stronger enforcement, potential licence-suspension powers, improved evidence gathering, and behaviour-change campaigns to reduce it.

The Road Safety Motoring Consultation specifically sought views on new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink‑ or drug‑driving offences:

i)while forensic analysis is undertaken;

ii) until attendance at court or a guilty plea, or if bailed, pending forensic analysis being undertaken; or

(iii) when there has been a fatality or serious injury, to better protect the public.

The consultation closed in May, the responses are being considered.

The police already have extensive powers. Under section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 they are able to arrest and detain an individual if they have provided a specimen of breath, blood or urine that exceeds the prescribed drink or drug driving limit or the individual’s ability to drive properly is impaired. How the police decide to use these powers is an operational matter for their discretion.

The Government continues to support the police to ensure that they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation. The Home Office does not hold data on the number of convictions for drug-driving offences or driving licences endorsed following a conviction for drug driving.

As the government department responsible for the courts and criminal justice system, the Ministry of Justice publishes statistics on criminal convictions as part of its Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly publication

The Government takes road safety seriously and are committed to reducing the numbers of those killed and injured on our roads. Driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs is unacceptable and there are tough penalties and rigorous enforcement in place.

The Government’s Road Safety Strategy, published in January 2026, recognises drug driving as a major road-safety risk and proposes a combination of stronger enforcement, potential licence-suspension powers, improved evidence gathering, and behaviour-change campaigns to reduce it.

The Road Safety Motoring Consultation specifically sought views on new powers to suspend driving licences for those suspected of drink‑ or drug‑driving offences:

i)while forensic analysis is undertaken;

ii) until attendance at court or a guilty plea, or if bailed, pending forensic analysis being undertaken; or

(iii) when there has been a fatality or serious injury, to better protect the public.

The consultation closed in May, the responses are being considered.

The police already have extensive powers. Under section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 they are able to arrest and detain an individual if they have provided a specimen of breath, blood or urine that exceeds the prescribed drink or drug driving limit or the individual’s ability to drive properly is impaired. How the police decide to use these powers is an operational matter for their discretion.

The Government continues to support the police to ensure that they have the tools needed to enforce road traffic legislation. The Home Office does not hold data on the number of convictions for drug-driving offences or driving licences endorsed following a conviction for drug driving.

As the government department responsible for the courts and criminal justice system, the Ministry of Justice publishes statistics on criminal convictions as part of its Criminal Justice Statistics Quarterly publication

Studies currently underway in the United Kingdom are examining outcomes which include employment status, work productivity, and sickness absence. For example, the industry funded SURMOUNT-REAL study will examine employment status and work productivity outcomes alongside other factors. The Government funded Scotland CardioMetabolic Impact Study will include an assessment of how improved health through weight loss may help people remain in work and reduce sick leave.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of quality, efficacy, and safety.

The MHRA has plans to gather the currently available evidence on mental health and other related risks for licensed migraine prophylaxis medications, as referenced in the separate responses to questions HL1488 and HL1543. A formal timeline for this review has not yet been agreed, and consequently we are unable to provide an expected completion date at this stage.

The MHRA is committed to communicating any findings that may have implications for patient safety or the safe use of medicines. The MHRA will sometimes issue communications, such as drug safety updates, after the conclusion of a review. However, the review is at an early stage, and it would be premature to comment on any potential communication plans. In addition, any product information changes that may arise as a result of this review would be reflected in the published product information available at locations such as the MHRA website or the Electronic Medicines Compendium website.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for ensuring medicines meet appropriate standards of quality, efficacy, and safety.

The MHRA has plans to gather the currently available evidence on mental health and other related risks for licensed migraine prophylaxis medications, as referenced in the separate responses to questions HL1488 and HL1543. A formal timeline for this review has not yet been agreed, and consequently we are unable to provide an expected completion date at this stage.

The MHRA is committed to communicating any findings that may have implications for patient safety or the safe use of medicines. The MHRA will sometimes issue communications, such as drug safety updates, after the conclusion of a review. However, the review is at an early stage, and it would be premature to comment on any potential communication plans. In addition, any product information changes that may arise as a result of this review would be reflected in the published product information available at locations such as the MHRA website or the Electronic Medicines Compendium website.

The Ministry of Justice publishes data on prosecutions and related outcomes for a variety of offences, including drink and drug driving, in the Outcomes by Offences data tool, which can be downloaded from the Criminal Justice Statistics landing page here: Criminal justice statistics quarterly - GOV.UK.

Figures relating to where prosecutions were discontinued or discharged are included in published tools but further details about why a case was discontinued and whether it was “thrown out on technicalities” are not held centrally. This information may be held in court records but to examine individual court records would incur disproportionate costs.

The Department is aware of a recent disruption to the supply of Prednisolone 1 milligram gastro-resistant tablets, which is expected to resolve over the coming weeks. We are continuing to work closely with the sole supplier of this product to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

The Department has issued comprehensive management guidance to the National Health Service, including all general practices and community pharmacists, and this included advice on alternatives and how to manage affected patients during this time.

Following the increase in the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s (NICE) cost-effectiveness thresholds in April 2026, NICE, NHS England, and the manufacturers have resumed discussions to explore whether a commercial offer can be agreed that would make Enhertu cost-effective for HER2-low metastatic or unresectable breast cancer.

NICE previously published guidance in July 2024 and did not recommend Enhertu for this indication because the cost-effectiveness estimates were above the acceptable range for National Health Service resources.

Those discussions are ongoing. NICE and NHS England remain committed to securing access to effective treatments where they represent value for NHS patients.