Lord McCrea of Magherafelt and Cookstown (DUP)

My Lords, I want to make a very short intervention in this debate. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, for introducing a very important debate. As she pointed out, an estimated 1.25 million people across the United Kingdom are living with ME. Many of those are suffering severely affected and unable to carry out the daily activities which others take for granted and therefore require significant support with personal care. The level of care services is inconsistent across the United Kingdom, leaving those in need with major gaps in provision, causing serious deterioration in their personal well-being. I therefore join in asking the Minister whether she can tell the House what interim support will be provided for people with severe ME, bearing in mind the delay to the expiration of the nationally commissioned service until April 2027. ME remains significantly underresearched considering how prevalent it is within society. Therefore, can the Minister’s department take action to accelerate ME research, thereby gathering the necessary evidence base for better care? The dignity of many suffering from severe ME depends on appropriate services across the UK. I trust that this short debate highlights the importance of the issue, and I wholeheartedly support the noble Baroness, Lady Scott, in her debate today.