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  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the recommendations on page 13, paragraph 2, of the Mental Health Taskforce report, published in February 2016, what steps he is taking to ensure all local areas have a multi-agency suicide prevention plan.

    Alistair Burt

    We welcome the recommendation by the independent Mental Health Taskforce that every area should have a local suicide prevention plan in place delivered through multi-agency groups.

    We will be working with Public Health England to engage and support local authorities that do not have a local multi-agency suicide prevention plan to put one in place.

    I will be meeting soon with Departmental officials and our delivery partner organisations on suicide prevention to explore ways in which we can work together to re-invigorate the National Suicide Prevention Strategy, including improving local delivery of its aims.

  • Mark Durkan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Mark Durkan – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Mark Durkan on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions his Department has had with NHS England on funding for Erbitux from April 2016.

    George Freeman

    I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 24 February 2016 to Question 27585.

    “

  • Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Luciana Berger – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Luciana Berger on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether it is his policy to accept and implement the (a) 25 recommendations made to NHS England and (b) 21 recommendations made to his Department by the Mental Health Taskforce in its report published in February 2016.

    Alistair Burt

    We welcome the publication of the independent Mental Health Taskforce report and accept its recommendations for the National Health Service and the Department. We will work with other Government Departments, NHS England and other health arm’s length bodies to work to embed the recommendations into our work programmes.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to inform families with young children who were born before the cut-off for the new meningitis B vaccination programme about the symptoms of meningitis.

    Jane Ellison

    The introduction of meningitis B (MenB) immunisation in September 2015 was supported by a comprehensive media and communications campaign led by Public Health England (PHE) in association with health partners and meningitis charities. Key objectives of this campaign were two-fold: to promote vaccination to parents of eligible children and raise awareness of the disease among parents, and to emphasise that not all strains can be prevented by immunisation. This led to significant coverage of the disease and its symptoms across social media, national, local and parenting media. The coverage included practical advice on recognising the symptoms, and the need to act quickly, supported by interviews with families affected by the disease on major news channels. The introduction of the adolescent MenACWY campaign in August 2015 was supported by a similar campaign that provided further opportunities to raise awareness of meningococcal disease.

    PHE also produces a range of leaflets for the public providing detailed information to help parents with young children identify the early signs of meningitis. The leaflets include links to the web sites of meningitis charities and NHS Choices for those parents wishing to access more extensive information about meningococcal disease. PHE also supports influential meningitis charities in the implementation of awareness campaigns. In addition, PHE undertakes detailed surveillance of the disease, publishing routine reports and taking appropriate action to alert the public to any increase in incidence or change in the pattern of the disease. Appropriate media and communications activities are implemented to coincide with these publications, often ahead of the winter, when cases of the disease peak.

  • Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Gloria De Piero – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Gloria De Piero on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many mother and baby beds are available in mental health units or hospitals in (a) Nottinghamshire and (b) the East Midlands region.

    Alistair Burt

    We are advised by NHS England that there are seven mother and baby beds in mental health units for Nottinghamshire and a total of 13 in the East Midlands, provided as follows: Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Perinatal (seven beds), and Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Mother and Baby Unit (six beds).

  • John Baron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    John Baron – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by John Baron on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made on establishing cancer clinical alliances; and what the function of those alliances will be.

    Jane Ellison

    Forming cancer alliances to drive and support improvement and care pathways was a key recommendation of the independent Cancer Taskforce report, Achieving World-Class Cancer Outcomes, published in July 2015. NHS England appointed Cally Palmer CBE as National Cancer Director to lead on implementation of the strategy and she has since established a new cross-system Cancer Transformation Board, which met for the first time on 25 January. There will also be a Cancer Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Harpal Kumar, to oversee and scrutinise the work of the Transformation Board. NHS England is currently working with national, regional and local partners to develop the model for cancer alliances, building on the successes of existing clinical networks.

  • Graham Stringer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Graham Stringer – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Graham Stringer on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the potential effect of the Chief Medical Officer’s new alcohol consumption guidelines on future levels of heavy alcohol consumption.

    Jane Ellison

    No assessment has been made of the potential effect of the United Kingdom Chief Medical Officers’ alcohol guidelines on future levels of heavy alcohol consumption.

    The guidelines have been developed to provide accurate information and clear advice about alcohol and its health risks to enable people to make informed choices.

  • Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    Douglas Carswell – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Department of Health

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Douglas Carswell on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Health, with reference to the Prime Minister’s Oral Statement of 22 February 2016, Official Report, column 35, on the European Council, whether his Department is undertaking planning in the eventuality of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum.

    Jane Ellison

    At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government’s position, as set out by the Prime Minister to the House on 22 February, is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assessment he has made of diplomatic and economic relations between China and the UK.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    Our relationship with China is stronger than ever. Last year’s State Visit by President Xi delivered £40bn in commercial deals, benefiting the UK economy, and establishing a new partnership to work together on global challenges. This global partnership is already delivering results, with the launch of a new visa agreement to boost tourism and business during the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond’s) visit to Beijing in January. The Foreign Secretary has also intensified co-operation with China on the Syria crisis. The Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Secretary of State, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Mr Osborne’s) visit to China last week was a further opportunity to strengthen economic co-operation bilaterally and through the G20, and encourage China to open up further to foreign investment and address over-capacity. The Government has a relationship with China which maximises the opportunities for the UK and allows frank discussion of difficult issues, such as human rights

  • Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    Karl McCartney – 2016 Parliamentary Question to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office

    The below Parliamentary question was asked by Karl McCartney on 2016-02-26.

    To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps he has taken to assist UK firms to access Chinese markets.

    Mr Hugo Swire

    As part of the Government’s new ‘whole of Government’ Trade Strategy, Departments are working together to make it easier for UK businesses, including Small and Medium Enterprises, to take advantage of overseas opportunities. This includes significant opportunities in China, which generates over a quarter of global growth. The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond) and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Secretary of State, my right Hon. Friend the member for Tatton (Mr Osborne) have both visited Beijing in 2016, in order to: emphasise the UK’s comparative advantages in sectors that are important to China’s ongoing economic reform; stress the importance of improved market access and a reliable business environment for British companies; and encourage China to address overcapacity. The Secretary of State for Business, my right Hon. Friend the Member for Bromsgrove (Mr Javid) also held talks with his counterpart in Birmingham in February, encouraging further Chinese investment into the regions of the UK. We will continue to take an active approach to strengthen bilateral investment and expand two-way trade with China.