AMR and health inequalities data

#57 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: The Government should ensure its ‘levelling up’ agenda includes specific policies to reduce health inequalities, with a particular focus on ensuring that certain groups, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, do not continue to face unequal health …

Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation. The government recognises the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on people from ethnic minority backgrounds, and it is committed to tackling health inequalities. This was reflected in the government’s response to …

Under Consideration

#54 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are crucial to the NHS and care sectors. The covid-19 pandemic has brought the experiences of these staff into sharp focus. It is telling that the first ten NHS staff to die …

Gov response: The government accepts the recommendation to set out a strategy to secure a supply of appropriate PPE that works for all staff in the NHS and care sectors. These findings are in line with Recommendation …

Under Consideration

#53 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: During the initial phase of the pandemic Black, Asian and minority ethnic people experienced significantly higher levels of severe illness and death from covid than was typical the population as a whole. Research conducted so far suggests that the drivers …

Gov response: The government recognises that those from an ethnic minority background have been disproportionately affected, the government has taken action to support these groups at each stage of its COVID-19 response. The government acknowledges that socio- …

Under Consideration

#57 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: The Government should ensure its ‘levelling up’ agenda includes specific policies to reduce health inequalities, with a particular focus on ensuring that certain groups, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, do not continue to face unequal health …

Gov response: The government should ensure its ‘levelling up’ agenda includes specific policies to reduce health inequalities, with a particular focus on ensuring that certain groups, including people from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, do not …

Under Consideration

#54 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Staff from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds are crucial to the NHS and care sectors. The covid-19 pandemic has brought the experiences of these staff into sharp focus. It is telling that the first ten NHS staff to die …

Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation.

Under Consideration

#53 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: During the initial phase of the pandemic Black, Asian and minority ethnic people experienced significantly higher levels of severe illness and death from covid than was typical the population as a whole. Research conducted so far suggests that the drivers …

Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation.

Under Consideration

#7 —

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: We have heard disturbing evidence that sewage treatment works and the rivers that they discharge into are becoming breeding grounds for antimicrobial resistance. There will need to be cross-sector collaboration to reduce the growth of antimicrobial resistance genes in rivers. …

Gov response: improved. The Government is already working closely with the Environment Agency, the Storm Overflows Taskforce and the water industry on relevant proposals to enable this and ensure accountability. Water companies have committed to bring forward …

Under Consideration

#46 — VMD's animal health surveillance relies too heavily on private testing and limited species data.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: For the clinical surveillance of animal health, VMD is very reliant on private testing of animals. Some infections of some species are reportable by law but VMD’s access to other data can be difficult.116 VMD told us that its routine …

Gov response: 9.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: Autumn 2026 9.2 The government is working to strengthen data collection and sharing across One Health sectors. 9.3 UKHSA launched a new data dashboard …

Accepted

#45 — Strong indications link AMR to health inequalities, but routine data on this issue remains limited.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: There are strong indications that AMR is also a health inequalities issue. The most deprived quintile of the population being nearly 50% more likely to get a drug-resistant bloodstream infection than the least deprived quintile (38.1 people per 100,000 as …

Gov response: 9.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: Autumn 2026 9.2 The government is working to strengthen data collection and sharing across One Health sectors. 9.3 UKHSA launched a new data dashboard …

Accepted

#43 — Significant data collection gaps persist across UK sectors despite the 'One Health' approach.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The UK government’s ‘One Health’ approach encompasses human health, animal health, food safety, and the environment and is intended to facilitate collaboration between these sectors.108 DHSC commended the very close relationship in the UK between human health experts and vets, …

Gov response: 9.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: Autumn 2026 9.2 The government is working to strengthen data collection and sharing across One Health sectors. 9.3 UKHSA launched a new data dashboard …

Accepted

#9 — Prioritise better data collection, sharing, and analysis across One Health sectors

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: There are shortcomings in data collection and sharing, hindering efforts to tackle AMR. The UK government operates a ‘One Health’ approach to AMR, encompassing human health, animal health, food safety and the environment, and intended to facilitate collaboration between these …

Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Health sectors. UKHSA launched a new data dashboard in February 2025, including data on healthcare associated infections and AMR prevalence. Further AMR indicators for urinary tract infections will …

Accepted

#20 — Ensure refreshed Women's Health Strategy addresses poor outcomes for Muslim women's healthcare.

Women and Equalities Committee

Recommendation: Tackling disparities in women’s healthcare is a key focus of the Women’s Health Strategy. The Government is due to refresh the strategy in the coming months. The Government should ensure that addressing poor outcomes faced by Muslim women, including in …

Gov response: 56. NHS staff should feel safe at work in an environment free of racism and discrimination. Every NHS organisation has a duty to protect staff from racism, sexism and religious hatred and will have their …

No Published Response

#17 — Provide key statistics on income and employment by religious affiliation, gender, and ethnic group.

Women and Equalities Committee

Recommendation: The Government should provide the key statistics on income and employment by religious affiliation and gender as well as by ethnic group in order that ongoing intersectional inequalities can be fully understood and addressed. This includes the statistics provided through …

Gov response: 41. We welcome the Committee’s attention to people who have experienced discrimination due to a combination of protected characteristics and share the view that this is unacceptable. 48. The Labour Force Survey (LFS), conducted by …

No Published Response

#16 — Insufficient up-to-date data on income and employment for Muslims and religious groups.

Women and Equalities Committee

Recommendation: There remains a lack of up-to-date data on income and employment related to Muslims and other religious groups. Current data based on ethnicity only offers a partial insight into current trends. It is disappointing that this data gap has not …

Gov response: 41. We welcome the Committee’s attention to people who have experienced discrimination due to a combination of protected characteristics and share the view that this is unacceptable. 48. The Labour Force Survey (LFS), conducted by …

No Published Response

#1 — Scotland's deindustrialisation created lasting legacies of worklessness and health inequalities in unsupported communities.

Scottish Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Scotland’s experience of deindustrialisation over the past four decades demonstrates the profound and lasting consequences of industrial transition when communities are not properly supported. The loss of major industries has left a legacy of worklessness and health inequalities. Despite Scotland’s …

No Published Response

#8 —

Environmental Audit Committee

Recommendation: We welcome the Environment Act’s inclusion of a requirement on water companies to reduce the impact on public health of sewage discharges. We recommend that this includes consideration of antimicrobial resistance.

Gov response: The Government agrees it is important bathers have access to timely information on water quality. Under the Bathing Water Regulations 2013, designated bathing waters are required to have signage, which is the responsibility of the …

Accepted

#44 — Disconnected health data systems and lack of central repository hinder effective antimicrobial stewardship.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: Lord O’Neill told us there is an underlying data problem in the health sphere, with many data systems not connecting properly.111 Better data in health would make it easier for clinicians making decisions on infection management and prescribing antimicrobials. The …

Gov response: 9.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation Target implementation date: Autumn 2026 9.2 The government is working to strengthen data collection and sharing across One Health sectors. 9.3 UKHSA launched a new data dashboard …

Accepted

#23 — Lack of progress on diagnostics target due to data limitations; no new quantitative goal.

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The 2019–24 NAP had a target to be able, by 2024, to report on the percentage of prescriptions supported by a diagnostic test or decision support tool. However, this was not achieved due to continuing limitations with data, including diagnostic …

Gov response: 4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2027 4.2 The government is working to fulfil Outcome 6 of the NAP, which commits to cross- sector working to develop diagnostics as …

Accepted

#15 — Past animal health AMR targets were unchallenging; new plan lacks targets amid rising usage

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: We asked VMD whether the targets set for animal health in the 2019–24 NAP were challenging enough given that they were successfully achieved. VMD acknowledged that while reaching the targets was a big success, it also considered that this was …

Gov response: 2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Winter 2025 2.2 Progress against NAP human health targets is closely monitored, using data to assess effectiveness, guide future action, and ensure alignment with …

Accepted

#8 — Develop a long-term strategy for securing adequate animal vaccine supply to the UK

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: The Department does not have a strategy to tackle shortages in animal vaccines. Vaccines play an important role in preventative health and disease control programmes in animals, including managing antimicrobial resistance. However, there have increasingly been 5 supply shortages of …

Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. vaccine availability outlines a strategic framework for cross-sector action. VMD is continuing cross-sector engagement to identify ways to improve supply and enable future innovation (involving government, pharmaceutical manufacturers, …

Accepted

#17 — Accelerate development of the maternal morbidity indicator and provide a clear timetable.

Health and Social Care Committee

Recommendation: We are concerned that progress on developing a maternal morbidity indicator has been unacceptably slow, despite a Government commitment to do so over two years ago. We recommend the Department work with the National Institute for Health and Care Research …

Gov response: We agree that the development of a severe maternal morbidity indicator is critical to our work to tackle maternal inequalities - enabling us to better understand trends at pace, including at a local level, and …

Accepted

#14 — Insufficient ethnicity data on maternal morbidity prevents monitoring and improving outcomes.

Health and Social Care Committee

Recommendation: Collecting robust, consistent, and equity-focused data on ethnicity and maternal morbidity is essential to enable health services to monitor and improve their services guiding improvements in maternal outcomes. Without it, it is significantly harder to produce accurate comparisons across all …

Gov response: We strongly agree with the committee that collecting robust, consistent and equity-focused data on ethnicity and maternal morbidity is essential to enable health services to monitor and improve their service delivery, thus guiding improvements in …

Not Addressed

#55 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: People with learning disabilities have experienced significantly higher death rates from covid-19 than the country as a whole. Deaths have been especially high among younger adults with learning disabilities. Initial research suggests that people with learning disabilities entered the pandemic …

Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation and recognises the importance of considering the specific needs of people with a learning disability, autistic people, and their families in health emergencies. Throughout the pandemic, a range of measures …

Under Consideration

#52 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: The impact of covid-19 has been uneven across the population, with some sections of society suffering significantly higher illness and deaths than the nation as a whole.

Gov response: The government recognises that those from an ethnic minority background have been disproportionately affected, the government has taken action to support these groups at each stage of its COVID-19 response. The government acknowledges that socio- …

Under Consideration

#55 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: People with learning disabilities have experienced significantly higher death rates from covid-19 than the country as a whole. Deaths have been especially high among younger adults with learning disabilities. Initial research suggests that people with learning disabilities entered the pandemic …

Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation.

Under Consideration

#52 —

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: The impact of covid-19 has been uneven across the population, with some sections of society suffering significantly higher illness and deaths than the nation as a whole.

Gov response: The government accepts this recommendation.

Under Consideration

#13 — Public acceptance of phages is crucial for their effective role in tackling AMR

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: The public will need to be convinced that phages are safe and effective. This will be key if phages are to play a role in addressing AMR in healthcare and as part of a One Health approach to addressing AMR …

Gov response: The government supports the principle of education and training on the clinical use of phage, as well as access to phage therapies and expertise, for medical and veterinary professionals as and when relevant. However, the …

Not Addressed

#12 — Integrate phage clinical use into medical training and ensure access information for healthcare staff

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: If phages are to be used more widely within the UK’s healthcare system it is important that healthcare professionals are aware that they are an antimicrobial alternative, especially when antibiotics have failed or are failing. We recommend that information about …

Gov response: The government supports the principle of education and training on the clinical use of phage, as well as access to phage therapies and expertise, for medical and veterinary professionals as and when relevant. However, the …

Not Addressed

#11 — Require DHSC to respond to phage network proposals and outline plans for knowledge sharing

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Department for Health and Social Care responds to the UK’s Phage Knowledge Transfer Network’s proposals within six months of their publication. The Department should set out how it will help develop a network for phage-related knowledge …

Gov response: The government has committed to establish clinical trial acceleration networks, with funding to be used to deliver innovative, efficient and effective approaches for clinical trials.

Under Consideration

#10 — UK phage expertise and resources remain fragmented, hindering potential exploitation

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: For the potential benefits of phages to be fully explored and, if possible, exploited in the UK, with competitive advantage, it is important that existing phage- related assets are properly aligned and integrated, connecting the various sectors, institutions, and actors …

Gov response: The government welcomes the valuable insights and recommendations put forward by the UK KTN Phage Innovation Network and acknowledges the importance of establishing a robust network for phage-related knowledge sharing and the management of assets …

Not Addressed

#7 — Set out steps and funding for developing new antibiotics for gonorrhoea and other STIs.

Women and Equalities Committee

Recommendation: It is worrying that we are seeing antibiotic resistance to some STIs—particularly gonorrhoea, where the rate of diagnoses has reached record levels, and for which young people and other communities at greatest risk are most likely to experience drug resistance. …

Gov response: Accept The government accepts this recommendation. Individual local authorities are responsible for funding and commissioning decisions about the SHSs that best meet the needs of their local populations, including prevention campaigns. Dedicated SHSs play a …

Partially Accepted

#1 — Committee received evidence on the threat of antimicrobial resistance in the UK

Public Accounts Committee

Recommendation: On the basis of a report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), NHS England, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) at the …

Gov response: The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented Tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires a coordinated and comprehensive global response. The 2024 – 2029 UK National Action Plan to confront AMR (NAP) includes commitments to …

Accepted

#23 — Ensure UK and partners disaggregate programme data by age, gender, ability, and displacement status

International Development Committee

Recommendation: The FCDO should ensure that the UK and partners disaggregate monitoring and programme data by age, gender, ability and displacement status at a minimum; do so systematically; and make this data available publicly. (Recommendation, Paragraph 104) 37

Gov response: Agree The FCDO carries out evaluations to assess the impact of its programmes on vulnerable populations including refugees and IDPs. The FCDO and partner organisations do currently record data disaggregated by age, gender and ability. …

Partially Accepted

#22 — Start systematically tracking and publishing official data on spending for refugees overseas

International Development Committee

Recommendation: To help determine a baseline and future targets, the FCDO should start systematically tracking and publishing official data on how much it spends on supporting refugees and internally displaced people overseas. (Recommendation, Paragraph 103)

Gov response: Agree The FCDO systematically tracks and reports data on how much it spends on supporting refugees to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), which publishes this data online.2 The UK and other OECD …

Accepted

#21 — FCDO's sub-optimal data collection limits accurate targeting of displacement spending

International Development Committee

Recommendation: The FCDO may be limited in its ability to accurately target displacement- related humanitarian and development spending owing to its sub-optimal data collection. (Conclusion, Paragraph 102)

Gov response: The UK made a pledge on the statistical inclusion of forcibly displaced people at the Global Refugee Forum in 2023 and is supporting a wide range of projects to improve displacement-related data collection. The UK …

Accepted

#53 — Record detailed post-16 pathway and long-term outcome data for care-experienced individuals.

Education Committee

Recommendation: The Department must record data on post-16 pathways and attainment for those with care experience—including detailed data on qualifications, course types and completion rates. The Department should also monitor long-term outcomes—employment quality, income levels, and 100 higher education progression for …

Gov response: PLANS ALREADY IN PLACE The Get Britain Working White Paper announced the Youth Guarantee for 18–21-year-olds in England to ensure young people are either learning and earning. This includes access to high-quality training, apprenticeships, and …

Not Addressed

#45 — Utilise local data to address barriers in areas with below-average qualification attainment.

Education Committee

Recommendation: We also recommend that the Department utilises local authority-level data to identify and address the unique barriers in areas in which attainment across qualification pathways (including A Levels, T Levels, AGQs) is below the national average. (Recommendation, Paragraph 171)

Gov response: ACCEPT Skills England recognises the need to strengthen and expand jobs and skills data across government to enable robust skills needs assessments, particularly at local levels. High-quality data is also essential for delivering the Industrial …

Accepted

#17 —

Women and Equalities Committee

Recommendation: Poor housing conditions have adverse impacts on health; living in poor quality housing is an aggravating factor in experiencing coronavirus severely. Pre-existing housing inequalities may have exacerbated the impact of coronavirus on BAME people. We welcome the Social Housing White …

Gov response: The government recognises that there is a need to improve the standards for rented homes, which is why we brought in the Homes Fitness for Human Habitation Act 2018, and why we are reviewing both …

Under Consideration

#4 —

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Recommendation: The Environment Bill should be amended to include a health inequalities target, to reduce the number of deaths associated with air pollution; and to require the Secretary of State to take account of human health considerations when setting or reviewing …

Gov response: Reducing public health impacts is a primary focus of the process for developing new air quality targets required through the Environment Bill. There is a strong case for taking action on PM2.5 as it is …

Not Addressed

#3 —

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Recommendation: Many of the areas with the highest levels of social deprivation are also the most exposed to air pollution and this link is also more pronounced for people from ethnic minority backgrounds. Further research is urgently needed to fully understand …

Gov response: quality targets required through the Environment Bill. There is a strong case for taking action on PM2.5 as it is the air pollutant that has the most significant impact on human health. That is why …

Under Consideration

#33 — Produce clear Government statement on phages and comprehensive support plan for AMR.

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government produces a clear statement on its assessment of phages. If it concludes that phages are to play a significant role in fighting AMR, it should produce a comprehensive plan as to how they will be …

Gov response: The government previously set out its position on the use of phages to tackle AMR in the written evidence that was submitted to the inquiry in April 2023 (10). This reaffirmed the government commitment to …

Not Accepted

#32 — Government and agency statements on phage role in AMR lack clarity.

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: If the antimicrobial use of phages is to move beyond ad hoc compassionate cases, the Government and its agencies should reflect on what role they are to play in the fight against AMR. At the moment, phages are referred to …

Gov response: The government previously set out its position on the use of phages to tackle AMR in the written evidence that was submitted to the inquiry in April 2023 (10). This reaffirmed the government commitment to …

Not Accepted

#9 — Report annually on 'One Health' progress for phage technologies and therapies

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: The Government, the World Health Organisation and a number of the witnesses we heard from have highlighted the importance of a “One Health” approach to tackling AMR across sectors including human and animal health, the food supply chain, and the …

Gov response: The government recognises the importance of exploring a range of different approaches to develop a comprehensive response to AMR domestically, internationally and across sectors. The government recognises the importance of research into non-traditional therapies, such …

Not Accepted

#1 — Robust clinical trial data lacking for long-term phage safety and immune interactions

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: The safety of phages has been well established mainly on the basis of observational evidence drawn from specific clinical interventions. However, as with all medicines, robust clinical trial data is important to provide and develop assurances around all aspects of …

Gov response: The government will continue to engage with phage stakeholders, including through the Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Network (KTN) Phage Innovation Network. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) provides the chair for Phage Innovation Network’s scientific …

Under Consideration

#8 — Expand government support for fungal research, conservation, and legislative scope.

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Should our successor Committee wish to examine the Government’s approach to fungal research, we recommend it considers: • How the Government and UK Research and Innovation can support research into the antifungal resistance in the environment, animals, and humans, to …

No Published Response

#1 —

Women and Equalities Committee

Recommendation: Comorbidities pose a risk for BAME people to experience coronavirus more severely and, at times, with adverse health outcomes. To tackle comorbidities, primary prevention should be prioritised. We are concerned that the decision to disband Public Health England could result …

Gov response: The government notes the Committee’s concerns that disbanding Public Health England (PHE) could have on existing health improvement work. Preventing physical and mental ill-health and reducing health inequalities remain top priorities for the government. Alongside …

Under Consideration

#26 — Publish clear guidance on interpreting official gambling statistics alongside new survey

Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Recommendation: Alongside its new gambling survey, the Gambling Commission should publish clear guidance about the interpretation of official gambling statistics.

Gov response: The Gambling Commission has published the first wave of data from the Gambling Survey for Great Britain (GSGB) and has developed a new dedicated area on its website to house all of the GSGB data. …

Accepted

#25 — Explore conducting regular Patterns of Play-style gambling research with UKRI collaboration

Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Recommendation: We recommend that the Government and the Gambling Commission should work with UKRI to explore how a study similar to the Patterns of Play research could be conducted on a regular basis.

Gov response: The ‘Patterns of Play’ research provided new insights into consumers’ gambling from a granular data set and was a key source of evidence for the Gambling Commission’s advice to the government on the Gambling Act …

Partially Accepted

#24 — Gambling data remains problematic; new research must be accurate, representative, and understood.

Culture, Media and Sport Committee

Recommendation: We recognise that much of the data relating to gambling is contested, misapplied, or entirely absent, and welcome that actions from the Government’s White Paper and changes to the Gambling Commission will mean that more research evidence can be commissioned. …

Gov response: We welcome the Committee’s support for the Government’s proposal to increase investment in gambling research through the levy both by the Gambling Commission and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) as the umbrella body for UK …

Not Addressed

#2 — Further clinical trials required to prove consistent effectiveness of phages and combinations

Science, Innovation and Technology Committee

Recommendation: Clinical data indicates that in many cases phages have been observed to reduce bacterial infections in patients. We also heard that their use in animals has also been shown to be effective. However, further clinical trials are required to prove …

Gov response: 1. Access for researchers to bacterial strain panels, biofilm, and infection models for evaluation of the efficacy of phage and phage-cocktails against clinically relevant bacterial strains. Delivered through an Open Innovation AMR programme and previously …

Accepted