Baroness Merron (Lab)

I am very grateful, as ever, for that offer and the engagement of the noble Lord. To his point about Command Paper 1558, I do not think that is the year the first one or this one were published. I understand there have been that many Command Papers, but this is a cracking one, and I am glad that the noble Lord has welcomed it. Research is extremely important, as the noble Lord identified. Through the strategy, our approach will be to research and development that actually works for, but also empowers, women. That is why I am glad we will be launching a femtech challenge fund. We want to accelerate the adoption of innovations and make sure they transform women’s healthcare. There is also an accelerator for female founders, and that is also key. I can confirm that the NIHR will be applying its new sex and gender policy. That will make sure that research is inclusive—as it has not always been in the past, as the noble Lord says—and is representative of women, and I welcome that. On the point about the long-term research and programme grant, as we develop this work I will ensure that my colleague, Minister Ahmed, builds this in. I also offer the noble Lord a discussion, because this is an important point.