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The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects that artifical pancreases for treatment of diabetes will be available through the NHS.

Norman Lamb

There are a number of artificial pancreas device systems and technologies for integrated continuous glucose monitoring in development which could be made available through the National Health Service once they have gone through the appropriate regulatory process to demonstrate safety and efficacy.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of song birds in the UK.

George Eustice

The UK has designated 615 sites as Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive, and 270 sites as Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive to provide protection to our most vulnerable and threatened wild birds.

Agri-environment schemes are the principal means of improving habitat for farmland songbirds, assisting farmers to provide additional habitat and food on their farms for birds and other wildlife. The Government also supports the Campaign for the Farmed Environment to provide better habitats for farmland birds.

The Government has provided £7.5 million to establish twelve Nature Improvement Areas. These are intended to benefit birds by improving existing habitat, creating new habitat and improving connectivity between habitats.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent estimate he has made of the number of merlins in the UK; and what steps his Department is taking to maintain their numbers and habitat.

George Eustice

The merlin is protected by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which makes it an offence to take, kill or injure any wild bird; take or damage their nests while in use; and take or destroy an egg. This robust legal framework protects the merlin from persecution, with penalties including imprisonment.

The Department has not made an assessment of merlin population levels. A study by Ewing et al reported that in 2008 there were approximately 1,100 breeding pairs of merlins in the UK.

Several measures are in place to protect habitats. The UK has designated 615 sites as Special Areas of Conservation under the Habitats Directive, and 270 sites as Special Protection Areas under the Birds Directive to provide protection to our most vulnerable and threatened wild birds.

The Government has also provided £7.5 million to establish twelve Nature Improvement Areas. These are intended to benefit birds by improving existing habitat, creating new habitat and improving connectivity between habitats.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent discussions he has had with the Chinese government on the export of British cheeses to China.

Michael Fallon

My Rt Hon Friend, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, has not had any recent discussions with the Chinese Government regarding the export of British cheese to China. However, officials at the British Embassy in Beijing have been in contact with the relevant authorities regarding the recent temporary suspension of imports of British cheese into China. The suspension has now ended.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent discussions he has had with the government of Brazil on the issue of the recent increase in the number of disappeared persons in that country.

Mr Hugo Swire

We have regular discussions on human rights with the Brazilian government. Most recently the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my Right Honourable Friend, the Member for Richmond (Yorks)(Mr Hague) raised this during his second visit to Brazil in February for the Strategic Dialogue. The UK also holds regular discussions of Human Rights and public security through the EU namely, initiatives, the Brazil- EU Human Rights Dialogue, the last of which was held on the 25th of April in Brasilia.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what recent discussions he or officials of his Department have had on the effects of digestion of sycamore tree seeds on horses; and what estimate he has made of the number of horses that have died as a result of ingesting such seeds.

George Eustice

Digestion of sycamore seeds can cause equine atypical myopathy. However, like many other equine illnesses, such as strangles and equine influenza, this is not a notifiable disease so there has been no need for active government intervention.

Defra works closely with the Animal Health Trust (AHT) and the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) in identifying cases of this emerging condition in the British equine population. This includes monitoring scientific developments and inclusion of data in the joint Defra/AHT/BEVA Equine Quarterly Disease Surveillance Report published on the AHT’s website.

This type of surveillance and communication enables private veterinarians to advise horse keepers to avoid pasture containing sycamore trees during high risk periods and to provide additional forage on fields where grazing is poor. This should be sufficient to mitigate against this illness. We will continue to monitor the situation and keep in touch with the equine veterinary profession to be aware of developments.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what the value of (a) exports to and (b) imports from Egypt was in each of the last three years.

Hugh Robertson

According to the Office of National Statistics (ONS), UK imports from Egypt were worth £1.36 billion in 2010, 1.41 billion in 2011 and 1.21 billion in 2012. Over the same period, UK exports to Egypt were worth £1.77 billion in 2010, 1.70 billion in 2011 and 1.59 billion in 2012. ONS figures from 2013 will be published in October 2014.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to exempt people in receipt of attendance allowance from paying vehicle excise duty.

Nicky Morgan

Consistent with the approach taken by successive governments there are no plans to exempt Attend Allowance recipients from Vehicle Excise Duty. However, all taxes are kept under review as part of the annual Budget process.

The below Parliamentary question was asked by Jim Shannon on 2014-06-04.

To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to reduce the incidence of traffic jams.

Mr Robert Goodwill

This Government is investing £24 billion on strategic roads in England across this Parliament and the next six years. This includes £317 million, before April 2015, on Highways Agency pinch point schemes tackling congestion and supporting economic growth. We are also providing, before April 2015, £265 million from the Local Pinch Point Fund for 112 projects across England aimed at relieving congestion and supporting economic growth.

In England, subject to approval, ‘Permit Schemes’ are available to local authorities in England so that anyone wanting to dig up the road must first apply for a permit to work. This provision gives authorities the power to better challenge how long those works take, to impose conditions, and to co-ordinate works. They can also charge ‘over-run’ charges to utility companies. The Department is also currently trialling Lane Rental in two highway authority areas, which enables them to charge for works taking place on the busiest roads at the busiest times.

Outside of England, measures to reduce the incidence of traffic jams are a matter for the respective devolved administration.