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  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what action they are taking to ensure that all evidence, and not just scientific studies, is presented to the inquiry into the safety of hormone pregnancy tests.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The terms of reference for the inquiry into the safety of Hormone Pregnancy Tests (HPTs) state that the Expert Working Group (EWG) of the Commission on Human Medicines will consider all available evidence on the possible association between exposure in pregnancy to HPTs and adverse outcomes in pregnancy (in particular congenital anomalies, miscarriage and stillbirth). This will include scientific studies as well as wider sources of evidence.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is providing the secretariat to the review and is compiling all the available information. To date, the MHRA has requested relevant published and unpublished information from all companies whose predecessors marketed HPTs and has conducted a search of the National Archives with a view to obtaining a complete set of historical documents relevant to this issue. The MHRA will also search for all relevant published literature and review all suspected adverse drug reactions that have been submitted in association with HPTs in the United Kingdom. All of this information will be made available to the EWG.

    Interested individuals and organisations were invited to provide any information relevant to a possible association between the use of oral HPTs and adverse outcomes in pregnancy through a public call for evidence between 25 March and 30 June 2015. In addition, the EWG will hear evidence from a number of individuals who feel their lives have been adversely affected by HPTs.

    The report of the review and all documents will be made public subject to the usual legal requirements.

  • Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Lord Kennedy of Southwark – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Kennedy of Southwark on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government how people and organisations can make representations to the inquiry into the safety of hormone pregnancy tests.

    Lord Prior of Brampton

    The terms of reference for the inquiry into the safety of Hormone Pregnancy Tests (HPTs) state that the Expert Working Group (EWG) of the Commission on Human Medicines will consider all available evidence on the possible association between exposure in pregnancy to HPTs and adverse outcomes in pregnancy (in particular congenital anomalies, miscarriage and stillbirth). This will include scientific studies as well as wider sources of evidence.

    The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is providing the secretariat to the review and is compiling all the available information. To date, the MHRA has requested relevant published and unpublished information from all companies whose predecessors marketed HPTs and has conducted a search of the National Archives with a view to obtaining a complete set of historical documents relevant to this issue. The MHRA will also search for all relevant published literature and review all suspected adverse drug reactions that have been submitted in association with HPTs in the United Kingdom. All of this information will be made available to the EWG.

    Interested individuals and organisations were invited to provide any information relevant to a possible association between the use of oral HPTs and adverse outcomes in pregnancy through a public call for evidence between 25 March and 30 June 2015. In addition, the EWG will hear evidence from a number of individuals who feel their lives have been adversely affected by HPTs.

    The report of the review and all documents will be made public subject to the usual legal requirements.

  • The Earl of Sandwich – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The Earl of Sandwich – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by The Earl of Sandwich on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government which towns in the United Kingdom have been designated as potential destinations for Syrian refugees arriving under the Government’s Gateway Protection Programme; which town councils have so far indicated acceptance; and of what numbers.

    Lord Bates

    Syrian refugees are brought to the United Kingdom as part of the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme. This scheme has been expanded to resettle up to 20,000 Syrians in need of protection during this Parliament. This is in addition to those we resettle under the Gateway and Mandate schemes which are completely separate schemes.

    Resettlement under the government schemes is voluntary on the part of local authorities. We are grateful to those who take on this role and will continue to work in partnership with them. We do not disclose the details of where refugees will be resettled upon their arrival in the UK under the Government resettlement schemes as this may undermine the privacy and recovery of this vulnerable group of people.

  • Baroness Uddin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Uddin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Uddin on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the effectiveness of joint working between the Metropolitan Police Service and Transport for London in order to prevent abusive verbal attacks on public transport in London.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Government Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor and Transport for London to discuss a variety of topics, with transport decision making in London being the primary responsibility of the Mayor, including making provision for ensuring the safety of passengers and staff.

    The Government has also recently assured that all police forces will be specifically recording anti-Muslim hatred as a specific hate crime and this will be adopted into all thinking.

    Our new Counter Extremism Strategy is also focused on dealing with all forms of hate crime and bigotry.

  • Baroness Uddin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Baroness Uddin – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Baroness Uddin on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government what representations they have made to Transport for London about ensuring that its staff are trained to deal with racial abuse, harassment and Islamophobia.

    Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon

    Government Ministers have regular meetings with the Mayor and Transport for London to discuss a variety of topics, with transport decision making in London being the primary responsibility of the Mayor, including making provision for ensuring the safety of passengers and staff.

    The Government has also recently assured that all police forces will be specifically recording anti-Muslim hatred as a specific hate crime and this will be adopted into all thinking.

    Our new Counter Extremism Strategy is also focused on dealing with all forms of hate crime and bigotry.

  • Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Transport

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Brooke of Alverthorpe on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Kramer on 19 March (HL5704), whether they plan to review the Coalition Government’s policy and to seek funding from the drinks industry to fund the Department for Transport’s drink driving campaigns.

    Viscount Younger of Leckie

    Sources of funding for campaign spend are kept under review but we currently have no plans to introduce a levy on the drinks industry to fund the drink drive campaign.

    Instead our aim is to develop partnerships with brands who can provide incentives to help drivers avoid alcohol if they are driving, or to help those people who are drinking get home safely without driving. To date we have secured the following partnerships so far for our 2015 campaign:

    – Coca Cola, who will be running their designated driver campaign, rewarding designated drivers with a buy-one-get-one-free offer on coke drinks in thousands of venues during the festive season.

    – Budweiser who also promote and celebrate the important role of designated driver.

    – Johnnie Walker, who ask drivers to take a pledge to never drink and drive, in return for discounted safe journeys home.

    These initiatives are all completely funded by the partner and add significant value to the campaign.

    We will continue to seek further partnerships with commercial brands who can extend the reach and impact of our campaigns.

  • Lord Adebowale – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Lord Adebowale – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lord Adebowale on 2015-10-22.

    To ask Her Majesty’s Government, further to the statement by Baroness Williams of Trafford on 12 October (HL Deb, cols 36–40) on the right to buy, whether (1) there will be a timeframe within which housing associations are expected to build extra homes, and (2) there will be a minimum guarantee of rented accommodation built to support individuals suffering from ongoing health issues.

    Baroness Williams of Trafford

    The National Housing Federation voluntary agreement states that housing associations and the Government share a mutual objective to ensure that replacement homes are delivered as quickly as possible.

    Whilst aiming for replacement within two years, the default position is that housing associations will have flexibility to replace homes within a three year period. The Housing and Planning Bill will also seek to introduce clauses that will speed up the planning system so that new homes can be delivered quicker.

    Under the agreement, housing associations may exercise discretion not to sell properties provided through supported housing as defined by Part V of the Housing Act 1985.

  • Ann Coffey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    Ann Coffey – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Attorney General

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Ann Coffey on 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Attorney General, pursuant to the Answer of 21 October 2015 to Question 11678, how many prosecutions for trafficking offences linked to County Lines investigations there have been in cases where a child under the age of 18 was trafficked to another area to distribute drugs; and what the outcomes were of each such prosecution.

    Robert Buckland

    The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) maintains no central record of prosecutions for trafficking offences linked to County Lines investigations. This information could only be obtained by examining CPS case files, which would incur disproportionate cost.

  • Craig Whittaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Craig Whittaker – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Craig Whittaker on 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to support small businesses in (a) West Yorkshire and (b) Yorkshire & Humber.

    Anna Soubry

    We are supporting small businesses in many ways and are committed to making sure the UK is the best place in Europe to start and grow a business. Businesses in West Yorkshire and the Yorkshire and Humber region are benefitting from Government support.

    More than 900 Start Up Loans, worth over £5 million, have been issued across West Yorkshire. And more than 2,600 loans, worth over £14 million, have been issued in the Yorkshire and Humber region.

    Almost 900 West Yorkshire businesses have secured loans worth £87 million under the Enterprise Finance Guarantee scheme. And more than 2,000 businesses in the Yorkshire and Humber region have secured loans worth over £196 million.

    There have been 48 Regional Growth Fund awards across the Yorkshire and Humber region totalling £268 million.

    The Growth Deal programme is supporting growing businesses across the Yorkshire and Humber region, including £8m for growing SMEs across Leeds City Region. The Government is also funding the establishment of growth hubs which bring together local business support and advice into one place. The North Yorkshire & East Riding growth hub is now in place.

    Ambitious, high growth businesses are also benefitting from the Business Growth Service: 369 in West Yorkshire and 900 in Yorkshire and Humber.

  • Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    Kevin Brennan – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kevin Brennan on 2015-10-22.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what his policy is on granting Market Economy Status to China under World Trade Organisation rules.

    Anna Soubry

    The UK will examine the Commission’s legal analysis and proposal on addressing the commitment in article 15 of China’s protocol of accession to the World Trade Organisation when it is made available. The UK fully supports the China-EU 2020 Strategic Agenda for Cooperation.