House of Lords written statement – made at on 21 March 2013.
Earl Howe
The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health
We have today laid before Parliament the Government response to the House of Commons Health Select Committee's eighth report of session 2012-13 on the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Cm 8568).
The Government welcome the Health Select Committee's report and recommendations.
In April 2013, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) will be established as a new statutory body with an extended remit covering adults' and children's social care, as well as health care and public health. The Government's plans for NICE build on its strong track record and a re-established NICE will continue to play a key role in supporting the delivery of high quality health and social care in the NHS through the production of robust, evidence-based advice and guidance.
NICE will also continue to have an important role in providing independent and authoritative advice to clinicians and commissioners on how new and existing treatments best fit into the treatment pathway for a particular condition. The government response confirms that NICE will be responsible for the full value assessment of medicines under new arrangements which we plan to introduce for new medicines from January 2014.
Copies of the Government's response are available to honourable Members from the Vote Office and to noble Lords from the Printed Paper Office.
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