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  • Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gregory Campbell – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gregory Campbell on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to tackle the increase of type 2 diabetes; and what work is being done to identify best practice and share knowledge throughout the UK.

    Jane Ellison

    The NHS Health Check programme is a risk assessment and management programme aimed at preventing a range of illnesses, including diabetes. Economic modelling has shown that potentially it can prevent more than 4,000 people a year from developing diabetes.

    Public Health England is supporting local authorities to deliver the NHS Health Check programme. Take up continues to improve with the number of checks being undertaken up by 13% compared to the same period last year.

    Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs) focus on priority service areas to help improve the quality and equity of care and outcomes by bringing together those who use, provide and commission services in the area they serve. There are 12 Cardiovascular Disease Strategic Clinical Networks, 10 of which have dedicated diabetes clinical leads, and they support the prevention of Type 2 diabetes, and identify and share good practice within their areas. Diabetes UK is supporting meetings between the NHS England National Clinical Director for Obesity and Diabetes, and the diabetes clinical leads and associate directors of the SCNs to help ensure that best practice is shared across all 12 regional networks.

  • Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, from what date the statutory duty of candour will be implemented; and if he will make a statement.

    Norman Lamb

    We announced, in ‘Hard Truths’ the Government’s response to the Mid Staffordshire public inquiry, that “subject to Parliamentary approval from 2014 every organisation registered with the Care Quality Commission will be expected to meet a new duty of candour”.

  • Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps officials of the UK Permanent Representation to the EU are taking to ensure that the Government’s objectives are met for the setting of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive.

    Jane Ellison

    I raised the issue of the establishment of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements with Tonio Borg, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, on 10 December 2013, emphasising the importance that any future proposals should be based on science and safety, to allow for the highest safe maximum levels. The nature of the United Kingdom (UK) market and potential impact on availability of thousands of products was underlined. This will be an important issue to raise with the new European Commissioner when appointed.

    Officials at the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (EU) continue to monitor for any development of proposalsfrom the European Commission for setting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. Should such a proposal be issued, officials at the UK Representation to the EU will advise and assist the Department in the delivery of the Government’s negotiating objectives.

  • Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the European Commission on the establishment of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements through EU Directive 2002/46/EC on food supplements.

    Jane Ellison

    I raised the issue of the establishment of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements with Tonio Borg, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, on 10 December 2013, emphasising the importance that any future proposals should be based on science and safety, to allow for the highest safe maximum levels. The nature of the United Kingdom (UK) market and potential impact on availability of thousands of products was underlined. This will be an important issue to raise with the new European Commissioner when appointed.

    Officials at the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (EU) continue to monitor for any development of proposalsfrom the European Commission for setting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. Should such a proposal be issued, officials at the UK Representation to the EU will advise and assist the Department in the delivery of the Government’s negotiating objectives.

  • Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Kate Hoey – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Kate Hoey on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will discuss with the new European Commissioner for Health, at the earliest opportunity after his or her appointment, continued access by British consumers to safe, high potency vitamins and minerals; and if he will make a statement.

    Jane Ellison

    I raised the issue of the establishment of maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals in food supplements with Tonio Borg, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, on 10 December 2013, emphasising the importance that any future proposals should be based on science and safety, to allow for the highest safe maximum levels. The nature of the United Kingdom (UK) market and potential impact on availability of thousands of products was underlined. This will be an important issue to raise with the new European Commissioner when appointed.

    Officials at the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union (EU) continue to monitor for any development of proposalsfrom the European Commission for setting maximum permitted levels for vitamins and minerals under the provisions of Article 5 of the Food Supplements Directive. Should such a proposal be issued, officials at the UK Representation to the EU will advise and assist the Department in the delivery of the Government’s negotiating objectives.

  • Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of children in (a) Chatham and Aylesford constituency, (b) Kent and (c) England were diagnosed as overweight in each year since 2005.

    Jane Ellison

    Data on childhood obesity are not collected at consituency level but at local authority level. Chatham falls within the Unitary Authority boundary of Medway and Aylesford falls within the District Authoity boundary of Tonbridge and Malling. The data has been presented for these Local Authority organisations as an approximate for the levels of childhood obesity in the Chatham and Aylesford constituency.

    The proportion of children classified as overweight in Chatham and Aylesford constituency (represented by Medway and Tonbridge and Malling respectively), Kent and England as measured by the National Child Measurement Programme 2006/07 to 2012/13 is shown in the table below.

    Prevalence (%) of overweight (including obese) among children aged 4-5 (Reception) and 10-11 (Year 6) years

    England

    Kent

    Tonbridge and Malling

    Medway

    Reception

    Year 6

    Reception

    Year 6

    Reception

    Year 6

    Reception

    Year 6

    2006/07

    22.9

    31.7

    22.7

    30.9

    19.6

    27.8

    20.5

    34.6

    2007/08

    22.6

    32.6

    22.6

    30.3

    20.9

    29.3

    17.9

    35.9

    2008/09

    22.8

    32.6

    23.0

    32.5

    20.5

    32.7

    25.3

    34.1

    2009/10

    23.1

    33.4

    23.8

    32.8

    21.9

    28.1

    23.9

    34.3

    2010/11

    22.6

    33.4

    22.9

    33.3

    29.1

    32.6

    24.2

    33.3

    2011/12

    22.6

    33.9

    21.7

    32.7

    19.0

    33.1

    23.8

    34.0

    2012/13

    22.2

    33.3

    21.7

    32.7

    20.9

    31.3

    23.3

    32.7

    “

  • Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Tracey Crouch – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Tracey Crouch on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the level of mental illness in (a) the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group area, (b) the Medway Clinical Commissioning Group area, (c) Kent and (d) England in each of the last five years.

    Norman Lamb

    Information on the levels of mental illness in the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group area, the Medway Clinical Commissioning Group area, Kent and England is not held centrally.

    All local authorities are required to develop and publish a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) – an analysis of the current and future health and care needs of the local population – and a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS) to address these needs.

    JSNAs and JHWSs form the basis of National Health Service and local authorities’ own commissioning plans, across health, social care, public health and children’s services. Local health and social care commissioners are expected to develop their commissioning plans in line with any relevant JSNA or JHWS, and must be able to justify any parts of their plans which are not consistent.

    The JSNA process therefore offers valuable opportunities to drive improvement in meeting the needs of local people with mental health needs. However, the Department has not highlighted any care group or area of need over another as this would risk undermining the purpose of JSNAs being an objective, comprehensive and most importantly – a locally-owned process.

  • Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Graeme Morrice – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graeme Morrice on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department has taken to address patient concerns regarding the use of transvaginal mesh implants.

    Norman Lamb

    Work to improve outcomes for women undergoing procedures involving urethral tape and vaginal mesh is currently under way and is being led by NHS England. The Department is involved in this work alongside the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), the specialist societies (The British Society of Urogynaecology (BSUG) and The British Association of Urological Surgeons (BAUS)) and the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists.

    In addition, Professor Sir Bruce Keogh, Medical Director, NHS England has written to the National Health Service to highlight the need to ensure that

    – National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance for these procedures is followed;

    – consent procedures are standardised so that they comply with up to date evidence and follow BSUG and BAUS guidance;

    – all pelvic organ prolapse procedures and all incontinence operations, but particularly those involving mesh, are recorded on a recognised database e.g. the BSUG or BAUS surgical databases;

    – all adverse events are reported to MHRA; and

    – surgery for removal of tapes or prolapse mesh or repeat surgery for incontinence or prolapse is performed in units which can demonstrate relevant specialist care.

  • Lindsay Roy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Lindsay Roy – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Lindsay Roy on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she is taking to reduce the number of animals used in medical research.

    James Brokenshire

    In 2010, the Coalition Government made a commitment to work to reduce the use of animals in scientific research and our Delivery Plan was published in February 2014.

    The commitment is being delivered through a science-led programme. At the core of the programme is a commitment to the 3Rs, led by the National Centre for Replacement, Refinement and Reduction of Animals in Research (NC3Rs), an organisation with a strong record in reducing animal use. The NC3Rs closely involves government departments and agencies, the Home Office Inspectorate, the research community in both academia and industry, and others with relevant animal welfare interests.

    I am committed to reducing the use of animals in research and the Delivery Plan shows how alternative methods can deliver fast, high quality research that also boosts economic growth. The commitment is not concerned with just baseline numbers, but encompasses the replacement, refinement and reduction (3Rs) more broadly. Aiming to achieve a target of reduction would be a flawed approach because numbers are not within our control. Instead, the Delivery Plan looks to support an agenda with the 3Rs at its heart.

    The scientific case for developing new techniques that do not require the use of animals is now as strong as the moral one. This Delivery Plan is therefore our starting point for the future and it will pave the way for future practice, both at home and abroad, and will cement the UK’s place as an international leader in this field.

  • Miss Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Miss Anne McIntosh – 2014 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Miss Anne McIntosh on 2014-04-28.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received on the levels of rural crime; and if she will make a statement.

    Norman Baker

    Between January and April 2014, the Home Office received five written
    Parliamentary questions on issues relating to crime in rural areas, not
    including this question. We also received one letter from a member of the
    public and a letter from the Member for Thirsk and Malton.