More or Less The Stats of the Nation: Sex, drugs and empty homes
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Jan 7, 2026 
Join Lizzy McNeill, a keen reporter on housing issues, as she reveals the shocking truth about 700,000 empty homes in the UK and their potential to help the housing crisis. Nathan Gower dives into the nuances of violent crime statistics, contrasting police records with surveys for a clearer picture. Meanwhile, Professor Jennifer Dowd breaks down the alarming drop in fertility rates, shedding light on childbearing trends and their implications. Together, they provide fascinating insights into the UK’s pressing social challenges.
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Rising Drug Thresholds Raise NHS Costs
- The NHS spends about £18bn on pharmaceuticals (~10% of its budget) and uses NICE cost-effectiveness thresholds to decide funding.
- Raising NICE's threshold to ~£35,000 means new drugs may be funded at roughly twice the cost-effectiveness of existing NHS services.
Pharma Price Comparisons Are Misleading
- International comparisons of pharmaceutical spending are unreliable because list prices differ and net negotiated prices are confidential.
- The UK currently spends a lower share on medicines partly due to strong generic use and rebate schemes capping growth.
Rebates Have Kept Drug Growth Lower
- The UK uses a rebate scheme (VPAS) to cap annual pharmaceutical spending growth between ~2–4%.
- Lowering rebate rates from 2029 will likely increase NHS pharmaceutical expenditure.