Earlier this year, the House of Commons Select Committee on Health and Social Care launched a call for evidence for a new inquiry into Future Cancer. The BSI responded to the inquiry with its evidence informed by previous discussions of the BSI-NCRI Cancer Immunology Group, chaired by Professor Ann Ager. In our submission to the Committee, we discussed the innovation possible through advances in cancer immunotherapy and the funding and infrastructure that needs to be put in place to actualise that, and called for an overhaul of the regulatory regime surrounding clinical trials in the UK. You can read our statement in response to the report here.
In August 2022, the House of Commons Select Committee on Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s Sub-Committee on Online Harms and Disinformation’s Inquiry on Misinformation and Trusted Voices initiated an inquiry examining the provision of authoritative information and the role of the National Academies in providing this. The BSI responded to the sub-committee with evidence that explained the importance of trusted sources of information on issues of importance such as vaccines and COVID-19 and the role that learned societies such as the BSI, had in working with the National Academies to ensure that this reached as wide an audience as possible. You can read our consultation response here.
In February 2022, the BSI responded to a consultation from an independent expert panel that was appointed by the House of Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee to evaluate progress by the Government against a series of cancer services pledges including immunotherapy. The report is part of a wider inquiry by the Select Committee on the state of cancer services in England and cites the BSI extensively. You can read our statement in response to the report here.
In November 2020, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Diversity and Inclusion in STEM launched a new inquiry on Equity in the STEM workforce. This inquiry aims to raise the profile of the challenges faced by underrepresented communities in joining and staying in the UK’s STEM workforce. We responded to the inquiry's call for evidence by setting out three key recommendations around data capture for protected characteristics, the need for longer-term career options in academia and research, and the widening inequity caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In August 2019, the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Vaccinations For All launched a call for evidence for a new inquiry into the best ways to increase vaccine uptake. The comprehensive, multi-faceted report that has emerged from this inquiry has now been published and includes some of the lessons that can be learned from COVID-19 and applied to other vaccination programmes. The BSI responded to the inquiry calling for increased training for healthcare workers to answer individuals’ questions about vaccines, enhanced community outreach services, and improving accessibility of vaccination services and we were pleased to see these recommendations included in the report. You can read our statement in response to the report here.
In November 2020, the House of Commons Select Committees on Health and Social Care and Science and Technology initiated a joint inquiry on Coronavirus – lessons learned. The BSI responded to the inquiry with evidence that explained the importance of clear and consistent messaging in government communications, steps that should be taken to improve pandemic preparedness, and the policy changes that should take place in order to improve the environment in which vaccines and therapeutics can be developed. You can read our consultation response here.
In July 2022, the BSI responded to the Labour Party Policy Forum’s consultation on how public services can be improved for all. This consultation will contribute to the creation of the Labour Party’s manifesto at the next General Election. The BSI’s response focused on how we can increase the uptake of vaccinations in children and the steps necessary to achieve this, as well as the need to develop second and third generation COVID-19 vaccines and the conditions and infrastructure we need in place to catalyse these innovations. You can read our consultation response here.
In September 2021, the BSI responded to a House of Commons Select Committees on Health and Social Care on cancer services. The inquiry was initiated to determine why cancer outcomes for patients in the UK lagged behind comparable countries and whether the NHS Long Term Plan on cancer would help to correct this. The BSI’s response discussed the advantages of cancer immunotherapy and advocated for what the country needs to develop this innovation further. You can read our consultation response here.
In August 2019, the BSI responded to a House of Commons Select Committees on Health and Social Care on cancer services. The BSI’s response focused on the importance of vaccination and increasing its uptake in children to wider public health and the measures that should be implemented to achieve this, as well as the education and training that medical professionals should receive in order to be able to fully answer parents’ questions around vaccines and assuage any concerns they may have. You can read our response here.
In April 2021, the BSI responded to a House of Commons Select Committees on Health and Social Care on the Department for Health and Social Care’s White Paper. A White Paper is a Government’s initial legislative proposal, in this case for a Health and Social Care Bill. The BSI’s response focused on the need for more action on increasing its uptake in children to wider public health and the measures that should be implemented to achieve this such as reversing previous measures that were enacted into law as part of the Health and Social Care Act 2012. You can read our response here.
In summer 2020, the BSI responded to a House of Commons Science and Technology Select Committee Inquiry on UK Science, Research and Technology Capability and Influence in Global Disease Outbreaks. The BSI’s response included information informed by our Immunology and COVID-19 Taskforce, including on what we need to do to improve pandemic preparedness, what we failed to learn from previous disease outbreaks, and the need to speed up and make more transparent the government’s scientific advisory process. You can read our response here.