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  • Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Alex Cunningham – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Alex Cunningham on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what information her Department holds on how many greyhounds were retired from racing on the grounds of injury in each of the last five years.

    George Eustice

    Under the Welfare of Racing Greyhounds Regulations 2010, there is no statutory requirement on any greyhound organisation or individual track to report any figures to Defra. The Regulations have now been in force for five years and Defra is currently undertaking a review of their effectiveness. The review is looking at the requirement on tracks to collect injury statistics and how they are then used; and the traceability of greyhounds after they have left the sport. Defra is currently consulting on the initial findings of the review as well as proposals for further action. Further proposals include agreement by the main industry regulator, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB), to begin publishing figures for the numbers of greyhounds injured at GBGB affiliated tracks each year, as well as the number of greyhounds that leave GBGB racing each year.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2015 to Question 16399, what discussions he has had with the Accelerated Access Review team on biosimilars medicines; and whether he has been given assurance that the final report will make specific recommendations on their use.

    George Freeman

    In accordance with the terms of reference the Accelerated Access Review is not excluding any particular type or class of medicine, but is creating a framework through which to accelerate access for National Health Service patients to innovative health technologies including biosimilar medicines where appropriate.

  • Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Virendra Sharma – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Virendra Sharma on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 23 November 2015 to Question 16399, whether the Accelerated Access Review team has provided any information on how biosimilar medicines fit into its work stream.

    George Freeman

    In accordance with the terms of reference the Accelerated Access Review is not excluding any particular type or class of medicine, but is creating a framework through which to accelerate access for National Health Service patients to innovative health technologies including biosimilar medicines where appropriate.

  • Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent progress he has made on his plans for a consultation on the proposed British Bill of Rights.

    Dominic Raab

    We will consult fully on our proposals for a Bill of Rights and announce further details in due course.

  • Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Ministry of Justice

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what account he has taken of the distinction between reserved and devolved matters in the devolved administrations in his plans for the proposed British Bill of Rights and for consultation on that proposed bill.

    Dominic Raab

    The government was elected with a mandate to reform the UK’s human rights framework. We are considering the implications of a Bill of Rights on devolution as we develop our proposals. We will, of course, fully engage with the devolved administrations.

  • Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Home Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps the Government is taking to ensure the safety and security of UK HGV drivers from their approach to Calais to entering the UK.

    James Brokenshire

    The haulage industry is hugely important to UK trade and prosperity and Her Majesty’s Government regularly speaks with haulage industry representatives to listen to their concerns regarding the situation in northern France. The Government is funding improved security measures and port infrastructure to protect the travelling public, including HGV drivers, in the Calais area. This includes the introduction of security fencing around port perimeters and along the port approach roads at Calais port and at the Coquelles Eurotunnel site; and the introduction of new secure zones for UK-bound HGVs at both locations. In addition, the UK and French authorities also work closely to share intelligence to combat illegal migrant activity and organised immigration crime.

  • Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Communities and Local Government

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the effect of Scottish Government policies on the level of new affordable social housing in Scotland.

    Brandon Lewis

    Delivery of affordable housing in Scotland is a devolved matter.

  • Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate his Department has made of the potential change in numbers of Syrian refugees arriving in Europe as a result of the commencement of UK airstrikes in Syria.

    Mr Tobias Ellwood

    We have not made any estimates of the potential increase in numbers of Syrian refugees arriving in Europe as a result of UK airstrikes. The majority of people who have been displaced in Syria have been fleeing regime and Daesh attacks. Unlike the Assad regime and its allies, who are bombing indiscriminately, Coalition military efforts in both Iraq and Syria are specifically designed to minimise civilian casualties. Targets are selected through rigorous protocol, based on the principles of proportionality, legality and military necessity. As the the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Philip Hammond) confirmed to the House on 16 December we are not aware of any civilian casualties as a result of the RAF airstrikes in Syria.

  • Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    Richard Arkless – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Richard Arkless on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will seek a ban on the sale of puppies from retail outlets; and if she will make a statement.

    George Eustice

    Under the Pet Animals Act 1951 local authorities can already apply conditions to individual pet shop licences. This includes, for example, restricting the species that can be sold. The power to apply conditions to an individual licence is in section 1(3) of the 1951 Act and is intended to help secure the welfare requirements set out in that section.

  • Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Andrew Gwynne – 2015 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Andrew Gwynne on 2015-12-14.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how much (a) his Department, (b) Public Health England, (c) NHS England and (d) each non-departmental public body spent on downloading apps for smartphones and similar devices in each of the last five years.

    Jane Ellison

    Information about the cost of downloading apps for smartphones and similar devices in the Department and its arm’s length bodies for each of the last five years is in the tables below.

    The National Institute for Care and Excellence (NICE) is unable to provide a response to this question as it would incur disproportional cost to establish whether this information is held. We don’t have a separate expense code that would enable an easy search of this type of expenditure.

    Health Education England do not collect this data. Applications are usually purchased by the individual and claimed back through expenses.

    Organisation

    Cost

    Department of Health

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Care Quality Commission

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Health and Social Care Information Centre

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Health Research Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Human Tissue Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Monitor

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    NHS England

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Public Health England

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    Organisation

    Cost

    Health Research Authority

    2011-12

    Nil

    2012-13

    Nil

    2013-14

    Nil

    2014-15

    Nil

    2015-16 to date

    Nil

    NICE is unable to provide a response to this question as it would incur disproportional cost to establish whether this information is held. We don’t have a separate expense code that would enable an easy search of this type of expenditure.

    Health Education England do not collect this data. Applications are usually purchased by the individual and claimed back through expenses.